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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHIVI/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions 


Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


1980 


Technical  Notes  /  Notes  techniques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Physical 
features  of  this  copy  which  may  alter  any  of  the 
images  in  the  reproduction  are  checked  below. 


D 
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Coloured  covers/ 
Couvertures  de  couleur 


Coloured  maps/ 

Cartes  gdographiques  en  couleur 


Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  ddcolordes,  tachet6es  ou  piqu6es 


Tight  binding  (may  cause  Shadows  or 
distortion  along  interio/  margin)/ 
Reliure  serr6  (peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou 
de  la  distortion  le  long  de  la  marge 
intdrieure) 


L'Institut  a  microfilm*  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  6t6  possible  de  se  procurer.  Certains 
difauts  susceptibles  de  nuire  A  la  quality  de  la 
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Coloured  plates/ 
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Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommag^es 


0       Additional  comments/ 
Commentaires  suppl6mentaires 


Fold-out  maps,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at  a 
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Only  edition  available/ 
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Bound  with  other  material/ 
Reli6  avec  d'autres  documents 


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Erreurs  de  pagination 


Pages  missing/ 
Des  pages  manquent 


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Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 


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Des  cartes  g^ographiques  manquent 


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The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
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Las  images  sulvantes  ont  AtA  reproduites  avec  le 
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Library  of  the  Public 

Archives  of  Canada 

Maps  or  plates  too  large  to  be  entirely  included 
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SIEGE  OF  SAVANNAH..       ^^ 


IN 


1779, 


AS  DESCRIBKl)  IN  TWO  CONTEMPORANEOUS  JOURNALS 
OF  FRENCH  OFFICERS 


I    *! 


IN 


THE  FLEET  OF  COUNT  DESTAING. 


ALBANY,  N.  Y. : 

JOKL    MUNSELL,  82  STATE  STREET. 

1S74. 


J  \i 


4 


'Ill  riiK 


(iK()li(ilA   IIISTOIJK'AL  SOCIKTV 


LHINTUIIU  TIOX  Til  nil:  MISTiiltV 


SIEGE  or  SVVANNAU   I.N    17711 


COUDIAI.I.V   DKDICATi;]). 


TNTIIODirrTION 


Ti)  tin-  kiinliicsH  of  Mr.  J.  Cnrsori  Hicvoort.  of  nrooklyii.  am  I  in- 
(l('l)ti'(l  I'or  till'  loan  both  of  tlu?  Fivncli  iiiaiiiiMcri|it  IVoiii  \vlii<'li  the  ful- 
lowiii;^'  traiiHlatioii  IniH  Im-cm  prepared,  and  of  tlie  aiito;iraph  map  lii-re 
reprodiieed.  Tlie  Ibrmer,  heaiitifidly  written  in  a  delicate,  rejiular 
hand,  is  evidently  a  copy,  l)y  a  |)rofes.sioMal  .^crilie,  of  the  journal  ol' 
Home  French  olficer  present  at  the  siei:('  of  Suviinnah  and  during-  liie 
movements  of  D'K'Ktain^'H  tleet  antecedent  to  and  conseipient  n|ioii  tliat 
inetMoiaiile  occurrence. 

It  is  clear,  from  its  internal  evidence,  that  the  original  was  a  con- 
tem|)oraneons  dociuneiit.  The  present  tense  is  used  in  nearly  every 
instance:  and  the  prohahilities  are  that  it  was  penned  day  hy  day  as 
the  events,  of  which  it  treats,  transpired.  The  forms  of  expression, 
words,  and  the  construction  of  the  .sentences  are  such  as  were  current 
iimong  Krench  writers  ahont  a  century  ajio. 

While  an  adept  with  his  pen.  the  scribe  was.  not  infriMpiently.  ne.irli- 
.ncnt  in  i)reservinf;-  the  proiier  accents  and  capital  letters,  and  unmind- 
ful of  suitable  punctuation,  lie  is  also  occasionally  at  fault  in  hi.s 
siK'llin,!:.  The  labor  of  the  translator  was  thus  rendered  somewhat 
tedio\is.  but  in  the  end  not  uncertain.  To  my  friend  I'rof.  Chai'les  IJau 
of  New  York  city,  special  acknowlediiuients  are  due  lor  most  valuable 
assistance.  Tnlortunatidy  the  name  of  the  author  ol'  this  .lourual  has 
not  been  preserved.  Without  doubt,  however,  he  was  personally  cog- 
nizant of  the  movements  of  whicii  he  speaks,  and  an  actor  in  the  scenes 
here  described. 

From  Fnylish  and  American  sources  we  derive  extended  accounts 
of  the  siege  of  Savannah,  but  the  accompanying  Journal  furnishes  us 
with  the  most  satisfactory  French  narrative  of  which  we  have  any 
knowledge.  An  interior  view  is  here  presented  of  the  intentions  and 
operations  of  D'Estaing,  and  of  the  disposition  and  labors  of  his  army, 
which  appears  nowhere  else  with  the  same  minuteness  of  detail,  and 


vi 


INTRODUCTION. 


accuracy  of  description.  Despite  the  fact  that  the  cociperation  of  the 
American  forces  under  General  Lincohi  is  recognized  by  little  more 
than  a  bare  mention  of  tiieir  i)resence  and  partial  participation  in  the 
assault,  and  although  undue  prominence  be  given  to  the  actions  of  tlie 
French,  this  account  happily  supplements  the  narratives  already  before 
the  public,  and  forms  a  most  valuable  conti'ibution  to  the  history  of 
the  siege. 

We  have  taken  the  liberty  of  adding  notes  where  they  appeared  con- 
ducive to  a  fuller  ajjpreciation  of  the  events  alluded  to. 

The  original   map  (of  which  we   have  here  a  reproduction   by  the 
photolithographic  process),  was  purchased  in  Loudon  at  the  late  sale 
of  Lord  Kawdon's  papers,  and  was  selected  from  his  military  portfolio. 
While  its  general  resemblance  to  the  nuip  of  the  siege  ol'  Savannah 
contained   in   "  Faden's  Plans  ol"  Battles   in    North  America"   will   be 
readily  conceded,  we  think  the  present  map  nu)re  elaborate  and  satis- 
factory in  its  details.     It  is  apparently  the  work  of  a  Gernum  or  Swiss 
engineer  who  may  have  been  connected  with  either  Wissenbach's  or 
Trumbach's  Hessian  regiment,  both  of  which  were  present  at  the  siege 
and  constituted  a  part  of  th.>  English  garrison.     IJy  an  endorsementlt 
seems  at  one  time  to  have  been  the  property  of  Lieutenant   Kinnegan 
of  the  Sixteenth  regiment  of  Infantry.     Two  companies  of  that  regi- 
ment held  the  entrenchments  to  the  left  of  the  Augusta  road,  and  n^i- 
dcred  ellicient  service  in  the  repulse  of  the  a.'^sault  of  the  'Jth  of  ( )ctober. 
As  furnishing  another  French  account  of  the  siege,  and  as  illus- 
trating the  opinion  entertained  by  at  least  one  ollicer  in  iri-lstaiiig's 
tleet  of  the  expediency  and  conduct  of  this  demonstration  against  Sa- 
vannah, we  have  translated  and  ajipendedsome  extracts  fromtlie.Iournal 
of  a  naval  ollicer  who  participated  in  the  expe.lition.     This  Journal 
was  printed  in  Paris  in  1782.     The  privations  en.hnvd  and  the  dan- 
gers encountered  by  the  French  licet  while  u[)on  the  Geoi'gia  coast  are 
vividly  portrayed.      It  is   interesting  also  to  note  the   estimate   here 
formed  of  Count  D'Estaing  as  a  man  and  as  a  commander. 

Both  themanu.«'riptand  the  printed  Jom-nal  were  procured  in  Paris, 
at  the  Luzarche  sale,  on  the  first  of  March,  180'J. 


Nkw  Vouk, 

.Time  1st,  1874. 


(JUAULKS  C.   JON'ES,  Jr. 


TlIK 


SIEGE  OF  SAVANNAH, 


nv 


COUNT  D'ESTAING, 


1779. 


SIEGE  OF  SAAwV^^iS^AlT. 


1779. 

July         Mmdai/,  at  four  o'clock  in  the  nioriiinji',  M.  D'Estaing  makes  his 
I'Jth.    appearance  in  the  roadstead  of  Basse  Terre. 

idem.  At  three  o'clock  I'M.  three  hundred  and  fifty  men  from  the  regiment 
of  Annagnac,  an  equal  number  from  the  regiment  of  Guadeloupe,  and 
thirty-one  artillerymen  are  taken  on  board  the  tleet. 


20th.        Tuesday  morning  preparation  is  made  for  sailing. 

21st.         WtdncsJay  morning  Count  D'Estaing  orders  the  ships  Le  Ruhustc     rV" ' 

and  L'Annibal,  and  the  frigates  Iphujenie  and  Za   Ghimere  to  detach    ' ; //  >. 
themselves  from  the  tleet,  and,  proceeding  to  the  leeward,  to  take  a     / 
position  before  the  forts  of  Montserrat. 

Towards  noon  La  Ghimere,  which  was  in  the  advance,  encountered 
twenty-five  or  thirty  cannon  shots  from  the  batteries  without,  however, 
sustaining  any  injury  from  them.  The  Hannibal,  commanded  by 
M.  de  la  Motte-piquet ;'  is  also  cannonaded.  Having  replied  with 
one  hundred  discharges  from  his  twenty-four  and  thirty-six  pounder 
guns,  directed  against  the  city  and  the  batteries,  this  oilicer  joins 
M.  De  Grasse,  commanding  La  liuhiuitc,  who  was  standing  to  his 
leeward. 

'  Spelled  iu  the  luauuscript  Mulhepiim<  I. 


i-  hr^^i 


'!€   I  , 


H' 


JMi  J. 


10 

1779. 


SIEGE  OF  SAVAXXMI. 

Near  four  o'clock  r.v.  the  iYw\io  T  i„„i.. 

"^  "'^""^  ^^'^^'ly  conveys  to  the  two  .ships, 


and  the  two  Irigatos,  an  order  to  return  to  the  «u.adr 
join  belbre  niditrall. 


■on;  which  they 


Ju  y         lJ,nrs,ay  n.orn„,g,  about  ten  o'clock,  the  French  .,„adron  deliles 

-nd.    ,„  order  of  battle  before  the  English  squadron  which  was  lyin,  in  the 

n>ads,.ad  ot  St  Christopher,  with  broad-sides  brought  to  bear  upon  the 

i^rench      The  Lnghsh  squadron  was  con.posed  of  twenty  vessels,  three 

ol  which  had  lost  their  top-masts  in  the  battle  at  Grenada  - 

Resolved  by  a  countennarcli  at  long  range  cannon  shot  to  pass  a 
second  tune  nearer  the  English,  Count  De  Grasse,  whom  Count  D'Es- 
tanig  had  charged  with  attacking  the  enemy  if  ho  deemed  the  matter 
practicable,  conducts  the  movement.'- 

23rd.  Friday,  Count  D'Estaing  dispatches  to  ]3asse  Terre  some  iri.ates  to 
bring  the  merchant  tleet,  to  which  that  of  Martinique  had  bee,;„nited, 
and  to  conduct  it  to  the  squadron  which,  before  St.  Christopher  and 
Montscrrat,  waited  to  convoy  it. 

20th.        On  Mondau  the  merchant  fleet  joined  the  squadron  which  sailed  for 
bt.  Domingo. 

olst.  Syluu,  at  (bur  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  the  squadron  arrived  in 
the  harbor  of  the  Cape.'  In  entering,  the  Amphion  touched  bottom 
and  lost  her  rudder.  Some  of  the  other  vessels  were  dama-zed.  Upon 
landing  we  are  informed  of  the  declaration  of  war  by  Spain. 


Auj 


Inesduij.  Count  D'Estaing  comes  on  boar.l  the  ( 'himere,  and  with 
the  ships  Artesien,  Fendant,  and  f^njUlalre,  the  frigates  Mha-r.  nnd 
Ghuncrc,  and  one  cutter,  sails  for  the  mole  of  St.  Nicholas. 

■^  Tliis  olior  of  battle  was  declined  by  the  English, 
y  Franvois. 


i 


SIEaj:  OF  SAVAXNAir. 


11 


1779.        Wednexilay.  D'Estairig  goes  aslioro  at  the  mole,  from  which  he  returns 

l)y  huid  Home  tla\.s  afterwards. 
Aug.4. 

7th.  Siilimhti/.  Arrival  at  Port  an  Prince  of  the  division  of  the  Fcmlant, 

commanded  hy  M.  de  Vaudreuil,  and  embarkation  of  the  troops. 

10th.  Fete  gi  •  -n  at  the  Cape,'  on  Iward  the  L(ui</ac<hc,  by  Count  D'Estaing. 
in  celebration  of  the  alliance  with  Spain. 

11th.  Wednesday.  Removal  of  the  troops  from  the  Wind-ward  islands  and 
their  location  in  ships  and  frigates  other  than  those  in  which  they  had 
been  embarked  lor  the  Cape. 

13th.  Friddi/.  M.  de  Vaudreuil's  division  leaves  Port  an  Prince  for  the 
mole  of  St.  Nicholas,  where  it  arrives  on  the  2Gth,=  and  receives  troops 
on  board. 

16th.  Monday.  Count  D'Estaing  sails  from  the  Cape  with  the  fleet,  and  a 
convoy  from  the  Wind-ward  islands  and  St.  Domingo  composed  of  sixty 
sails.^  During  this  voyage  of  the  17th  and  18th  the  scpiadron  keeps 
to  the  windward,  and  is  joined  by  the  division  of  M.  de  A'audreuil  which 
left  the  mole  on  the  17th. 

18th.         Wednesday.  Passed  near  Tortngas. 

10th.  Thumhiy.  Came  in  sight  (jf  Great  Inagua,  a  low  and  uninhabited 
island. 


20th. 


Friday.  Sighted  and  passed  to  the  leeward  of  Miraporvos  and  the 
Fortune  islands,  a  cluster  of  low  lying  island.s,  and  like  Inagua,  unin- 
hal)it(Ml.     In  the  afternoon  of  the  same  da^-  we  observed  Crooked  island. 

'  FraiKMiis. 

-  Sliimid  be  the  \<olh  ;  see  postoa. 

■'  Manshdl,  in  hi-  Ufi  „  '  W,„h!,„jto,,,  [vol.  iv,  p   K.     J'hiiadelphia,  1805  ]  computes 
the  strength  of  the  land  army  on  board  the  fleet,  at  six  thousand  men. 


S/EOE  OF  SAVAXXAir. 

Sntunhn/.  Tlic  Gcnonil  look  advantago  of  a  calm  to  hoist  the  coni- 
mancler's  Hag.  An  ofliciT  from  each  vessel  repaired  on  hoard  the  sliip 
Laiigiiedoc  and  received  piu-tienhir  instrnetions  and  signals  Ibr  landing. 
Sealed  orders  relating  to  the  debarkation,  addres.sed  to  the  commanders 
of  the  troops  on  the  respective  ves.sel.s,  were  liirnished  by  the  Major 
General  of  the  land  army. 


22nd. 

and 

23rd. 


On  Smnluij  and  Mumhiy  we  sailed  in  sight  of  the  Watling  islanils 
which,  in  all  respects,  resembled  the  islands  we  had  noticed  on  pre- 
vious days. 

At  three  o'clock  p.m.  on  Sumlai/,  the  merchant  convoy  separates 
itself  from  the  squadron  and  is  escorted  by  tiie  Pmhvtcur  and  the  Fler, 
and  by  the  frigates  Mi  nerve,  Almiriie  and  Ahmth/c. 

At  the  time  ol"  its  de])arture  from  the  AVindward  islands  the  lloet  was 
composed  of  twenty-five  ships  —  including  the  Ficr  Uinln<j„c  —  thirteen 
frigates,  and  one  cutter.  The  Amphion  was  absent,  having  remained 
at  the  Cape.  After  our  separation  from  the  convoy,  the  lieet  was  reduced 
to  twenty-two  ships  of  the  line,  ten  frigates,  and  one  cutter.  Tliere 
were  also  several  barges  and  transport  schooners,  and  some  American 
vessels. 


Sept.         Wt'thmdoi/,  at  seven   o'clock  I'.m.   we   anchored    in  fifteen   fatiioms 
1st.       Avater,  fourteen  or  fifteen  leagues  east  of  the  coast  of  Georgia,  and  in 
the  thirty-ilrst  degree  of  north  latitude. 

2nd.  Thnmhnj.  The  sea  very  rough.     The  winds  veering  from  east  to 

south  compelled  a  part  of  the  squadron,  which  had  lost  both  cables 
and  anchors,  to  put  to  sea. 

4th.  Safunlay.  South-east  winds  have  restored  a  calm,  and  tiie  lleet  is 

again  united. 


7tli.  Tumliiji.  The  squadron  gets  under  way  to  approach  the  land. 


siicai-:  or  savaxxmi. 


n 


177!i 
Sept. 


WahicKihn/.  Wo  oust  luiclior  I'onr  leufiucs  in  front  of  Tyboi''  islanil. 

A  division  coniijosed  of  tho  Ar/rsicii,  the  Faiitdsijiw,  tiio  Chiini'iv,  the 
lihiiiche,  the  Foiiinire  und  the  f/ifii'ijeiiic  in  detaciied  from  the  lleet  to 
iidvanee  and  come  to  anchor  at  tho  distance  of  a  league  and  a  half  from 
Tybeo. 

9th.  Count  D'pj.staing  directs  tiie  embarlvation  of  seven  hundred  troops  in 

tho  long  boats,  to  await  his  further  orders.  Tiie  Cieneral  iiiniseif  'oes 
on  board  the  Chinii'ir  and,  witli  three  other  frigates,  prepares  to  foi-ee 
a  passage  acu-oss  the  liar  of  the  Savannah-  river.  He  had  scarcely 
gotten  under  way  when  the  galleys  or  frigates  of  the  enemy,  which 
were  lying  at  anchor  near  the  mouth  of  the  river,  moved  a  league  higlier 
up.'  At  the  same  time  the  English  opened  (ire  upon  us  from  Fort 
Tybee.^  Our  four  frigato.s  came  to  anchor  above  tho  bar,  having  crossed 
it  without  encountering  any  obstacle.  At  niglitl'all  Count  D'Estaing 
orders  the  disembarkation  of  tlie  troops  on  board  the  frigates,  and 
directs  tho  long  boats'  to  be  brougiit  along  asido  of  the  Ghhtn'rc  that 
they  might  move  in  concert. 

As  the  general's  cutter,  in  which  there  was  a  detachment  of  only 
fifteen  men,  belonging  to  the  regiment  of  Armagnac,  uu)ved  much  faster 
than  tho  long  boats,  the  General, being  unwilling  to  wait  for  them,  landed 
himself  on  Tybee  island  which  he  found  evacuated  by  tho  eneni^-. 
Having  visited  the  environs  of  the  fort,  he  posts  two  sentinels  and  goes 
quietly  to  sleep.  The  long  boats  were  unable  to  compass  a  landing 
until  two  hours  afterwards.  From  these  boats  two  hundred  men  of 
diilereut  regiments  were  put  on  sliore. 

'  Spelled  in  tlio  iimiiiiscripf,  Tiii/. 

-  In  tin;  inaniiscript  writlun  Suvtiunh.. 

•'Tho  l';ni;li,sli  vcssols  allmlod  ti)  woro  tlio  ships  A'i<.<, ,  Fmrn/,  h'rpji/i'  ami  di'rnui.'ii.  tho 
Com,  1, 11  liuiloy,  anil  sovoral  sniall  oral't.  Upon  tho  approacii  of  the  French  llioy  woij;hod 
anclmr  and  retired  to  Five  I'athoni  hole. 

'  l''orl  'I'ybco,  located  near  the  ligla  house  on  the  norlliern  oxtremity  of  (iroat  Tybee 
i.slatnl,  was  desij^ned  to  :;uard  the  entranee  into  Savannah  river.  At  this  lime  it  was 
feebly  garrisoned.  It's  armament  eonsisted  of  one  twenty-lour  p.)under  gun  and  an  eight 
and  a  half  inch  howitzer. 

■'  Already  lilled  with  seven  hundred  men. 


14 


SIKdi:  UF  S. www  A  II. 


Lf  -^  I'n,!,,!,,  at  .lav-l-iruk,  tlio  CmutmI  ..nlcrs  tlK-  liJuunm'  to  rcrmb.irk 
^^^-^^^  Ikt  troops  aiHl  Join  tl.c  s.jua.lron.  11.  liinisclf  rotun.s  to  l.is  ship  an.l 
^,1^1^  '''^■'''''' ^•'''«''' 'ill  tla'lan.Iin- tro.,ps,,r  tin.  li.vtrmnitlie  ships  thollan- 
'nl'i'l,  th..  (i„..ni,.r,  ti...  Sphinx,  th.'  Vongrnr,  tlic  Artosiun  an.l  tho 
IVovLM.fo,  to  pass  in  ivvirw  hdhiv  iiini.  At  ten  ./dock  at  ni-ht  tlie 
tnu.ps  whid.  were,  on  Tyb...  ishuiJ  were  taken  on  hoar.l  the  twoTrigates 
La  lUauvhc  and  Li  J-urhunv.  Onlv  twentv-llve  nu'ii  ..f  the  regiment 
of  Arniagnac  were  left  on  board  tlie  (.'hini.'re. 


llth 


Satnnhij.  The  six  ships  al)ove  nanie.l,  with  all  the  Ion- boats  ..fthe 
«luadron  an.l  the  .ntters,  wei,ulu..l  anehors  an.l  the  same  day  dropped 
tliem  agani  six  leagues  to  the  south,  an.l  at  a  distance  of  Ibu..  jea-ues 
Iron,  the  month  of  Ossaba  river,  at  whi.i,  point  a  disend>arkation  had 
been  iletermine.l  up.,n."  Twelve  hun.lred  men  fr..m  dillerent  regiments 
wer.'  plaeed  in  the  long  boats  and  cutters. 


U'th. 


Siiuilai,.  At  nine  o'eloek  at  iiiglit  these  tr.,.)ps  set  Ibot  on  lan.l  at 
JJeaulieu.^  situated  Ibiir  leagues  from  the  mouth  of  the  Ossaba  river, 
iiiid  six  K.agues  to  the  s..uth  of  Sava.mah.  This  p.,int^  was  guarded 
by  thirty  men  whoevaeuat.d  it  upon  the  ajij-roa.'!.  of  .u.r  tro..ps°  whose 
landing  was  in  im  manner  iiindered. 

'  Tlio  ^■isco,■,.t  de  l',)nh.njrcs,  Acljiitant-Cienoral  of  fl,o  annv.  who,  i„  (|„  fi-i.^to  \.,n. 
zon,co„>nK.uded  by  tho  ran.„us  ..aviKa.nr  U  l>.:,„u«.,  had  loo,,  di.patehod  ^  Cou.t 
1  Ks  amg  to  ..onler  with  (io.u.n.l  Linn,!,,,  arrive,!  in  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  on  ,ho 
•l.h  ol  ^opten,be^,  A  concert  of  actio,,  between  the  French  fleet  and  the  An.erieanH  for 
the  reduction  of  Savannah,  was  ,,niekiy  a.M-eed  u,,on,  IJoat.,  were  sent  fron,  Charleston 
o  a8«,st  ,n  land.nj,.  troops,  ordnance,  and  stores.  CoI„nel  Cand.ray  of  ,i,e  Kn-ineer., 
.donel  Ihomasl'inckney,  .\id  to  (ieneral  Lincoln,  an,l  <-.,„„iu  .lad.sden  we,-e  de.ail.d 
to  .-eturn  w,.h  .he  \  .sconnt  and  a.ssist  Count  D'Kstaing  in  consununatin;;  his  landin.- 
upon  the  (icor-ia  coast,  i.'nuiu„ 

At  (Xsaba  Count  D'Kstainj,  was  n>et  by  Colonel  Jo.se,.h  Ilaher.shau,  who  had  proceeded 
th.ther  to  .nd.cate  the  proper  place  for  an,l  to  facilitute  the  debarkation  of  ,he  ,rno„s 

-  Written  Jhuli/  in  the  nianu.script. 

_  ^  Colonel  Hnekney  states  that  the  liriti.sh  force  stationed  at  this  point,  with  two  field 

p.eces   had   been  wi.hdr.uvn  the  preceding  day.     Had  any  resistance  been  oMered   the 

ircnch.n  open  boats  and  unsupported  by  the  fleet.  Would  ..eccsarily  have  been  subjected 

to  considerable  loss.  j.-.-i>-u 


■:#- 


1779. 
Si'pt. 

r2tii. 


Sli:(li:  OF  SAVAWAIf.  |- 

Inrorinalioii  Ih  nvcivod  ol"  \\w  t-iiptiiiv  of  tlio  fVijiuto  Ariol'  hy  the 
Aiimzoii,  (■oniiiiiUKled  by  iM  dc  In  I'eroiizc,  ii  liciitoimnt  of  tlu-  navy. 
M.  Koger,  a  captain  of  the  regiment  of  Oiiadi-lotipo,  was  uidured  hy  tlie 
General  to  occupy  a  position  di.stant  three  leagues  from  Ueaulieu  in  the 
direction  ol'  Savannah,  and  along  the  line  of  Ossaba  river.  Here  he 
captured  two  barges  and  some  long  boats  freighted  with  articles  and 
merchandise,  and  ten  i)risoncrs.  He  reports  his  achievement  to  the 
rieneral.andalsocommnnicatesthefact  that  intelligence  had  just  reached 
him  that  he  would  be  immediately  attacked  by  two  iumdred  men. 
This  determined  Count  D'Estaing  to  dispatch,  at  once,  M.  Odune,  with 
three  hundred  men,  for  the  relief  of  M.  l!oi;cr. 


i 


idem.        General  I'ulaski,-'  with  some  ollicers  of  his  command,  comes  to  wel- 
come M.  D'J'lstaing. 

I  This  captuvu  was  niiido  uri  tl..  llth,  after  i.  f^allaiit  rcsislanci!  .iH'eiud  on  tlio  part  nf 
tho  KiiKli-sli  ciuiiiiiaTiiU'r.  Tlio  Amazon  carried  a  battery  ol'  tliirty  six  guns,  while  the 
An'il  had  ciiily  twcntylinir. 

■-'  .*^pelled  t'dltifl,!/  ill  tlie  iiiaiiilseript. 

Tiila^ki,  whi),  alter  I'ruvost's  retreat  from  South  Carolina,  liad  taken  pi.st  hi.  a  rid-e 
lit-ly  miles  mirtli-cast  cf  Aufiusta  fur  the  ei>nvcnieneo  of  (d.tainin^'  provisions  and  to  he 
within  ea.sy  march  of  either  Augusta  or  Charleston  asoeeasioii  mi-lit  rociuiro,  was  ordered 
to  join  Ceiieral  .Aleliitosh  at  Au-nsta.  With  this  united  nunniand  (ieiieral  .Melntosh 
was  direetud  to  move  toward  .^avannah  in  advance  of  the  army  under  (jencral  Lincoln 
which  was  coniiiijr  from  Charleston,  attack  the  Hritish  outposts,  and  open  communi- 
cation  with  the  rreueh  troops  up<.u  the  coast,  t'ressiiif,'  forward,  fioneral  Mcintosh  took 
a  position  between  Savannah  and  (Jreat  Ofiecchee  ferry.  Count  I'ulaski  cut  off  one  of 
the  enemy's  pickets,  killin-  and  wonndinj;  live  men  and  eaptiirin-  a  subaltern  and  live 
privates.  .Several  skirmishes  were  had  with  the  Itritisli  (mtposts  before  ho  joined  the 
French  at  Ueaulieu.  As  soon  as  Count  U'Hstain^'  had  cffocteda  landing,  General  .Mcintosh 
returned  and  halted  at  Milieu's  plantation,  where  ho  awaited  the  arrival  ,d'  (Jeneral 
Jjincoln 

Sr,'  M'C„/l\i  //i.'^lori/ of  (;,'„,■;/,;,.  v.d.  II,  p.  217.  Captain  licntalou  (/A/,/,/  fo  ./„,/,;,. 
Jolu,su,i\  Jinn,n/.-x  etc.,  p.  ill!.  Baltimore,  ISl'D)  a.s.serts  tliiit  Count  D'Estaing  inti.rmcd 
I'ulaski,  upon  their  meeting  at  Ueaulieu.  that  he  intended  to  march  at  oneo  upon  Savannah 
without  waiting  for  General  Lincoln,  and  that  "  he  counted  on  his  Legion  to  form  his 
van."  '■  III  pursuancoof  this  wish."  continues  Captain  licntalou,  "  we  set  out  immediately 
and  rca.-lied  Savannah  sometime  befnrc  D'lOstaing,  where  we  eng:igcd  and  cut  off  an  ad- 
vauccd  picket  of  the  cueiny's  infantry." 


16 


rjth. 


sirjiN  or  s.\  r.t. V.V.I //. 


177!).       Tlic  iiniu'd  .'^toir  .sliips  J.<i  Uricolinud  Iai   y^HiVf,  ciUT}ing  eij!,littni 
1111(1  twelve  [louiiiliT  guns,  enter  the  Saviiiiuali  river  to  join  the  Cliuiu'rr 


iiiulei'  tlie  eoiiiiiiiiiKl  oi'  M.  Diirmiiaiii,  who  exeliiuige.s  ii  ciuiiioiiiKle  with 
the  English  giilie^M  without  injury  to  either  side. 


13th.  The  frigates  La  J-'or/iuirc  ami  Ld  lilitiivlic  leave  .Savannah  river  to 
receive  the  orilers  which  M.  D'Kstaing  had  left  for  them  with  M.  de 
Brovos  commanding  the  remainder  of  the  lleet.  They  come  to  anchor 
near  the  Cm^itr.  at  ten  o'clock  in  the  nioruing.  At  noon  they  are  or- 
dered to  disemhark  their  troop.s  at  Cksaba  river.  The  rough  weather 
did  not  permit  them  to  rai.se  their  anchors,  and  the  wind,  which  had 
suddenly  incri'ased  to  a  gale,  compelled  tlii-m  to  slip  their  cables.  The 
same  thing  happened  to  the  squadron  of  M.  de  IJrovcs  who,  in  lik(^ 
manner,  almndoned  his  anchors.  The  violence  of  the  wind  did  not 
sutler  the  lleet  to  return  to  its  anchorage  liefore  the  2(lth.  Several, 
vessels  wore  severely  injured,  and  the  ship  Ln  lllaii>7ic\\iin  at  one  time 
on  the  eve  of  cutting  away  her  mizzen-mast. 

idem.        Two  American  galleys,  armed  with  eighteen  and  twenty-four  pounder 
guns  and  coming  IVoiii  Charles-Town,  proceeded  to  join  M.  Uunimain. 


15th.  Wulncsihtij.  Tiie  twelve  hundred  men  removi'd  from  IJeaulieu  and 
went  into  camp  three  miles  from  Savannah.  The\'  were  divided  into 
three  commands,  as  follows,  that  of  the  General  in  the  centre,  towards 
Mixhuu;  that  of  Dillon  on  the  right,  at  Jonshanss,  and  that  of  Noailles 
on  the  left,  at  Brisr/hdittv. 

Since  the  eleventh  of  Septemher  when  the  landing  of  our  troops 
was  efTtcted,  variable  north-west  and  north-east  winds,  prevailing 
violently,  prevented  the  continuance  of  the  debarkation.  Most 
of  the  long  boats,  two  of  which  were  lost,  had  not  returned  from 
the  shore.  To-day  the  sea  is  beautiful  and  all  the  boats  are  filled  with 
troops. 


sii:ai:  or  s.\  i.i.v.v.i//. 


17 


I77!i. 

Sept. 
I'.tli. 


(iciiiTiil  liiiicolu  arrives  witli  lirtccn  Iiiiii(lr(>i|  Aiiicriciin  troopH.'     lU 
(•iiiii|»H  near  1)^-  and  to  the  left  of'tliu  division  of  Noaillcs. 


Siihinlii!/.  .M.  D'Kstaiiifr,  accoinpanicil  hy  tiie  (n< iiadla-x u[' Xwxi'Ywnn 
ami  the  ^//(/xstvow  ot'CJianiiiaf-iiP  and  oCdiiadcloiipc,  sunwiions  (iencral 
Prc'vost  to  siim-ndcr.-  He  asi;s  twelve  lioms  lime' to  consider  the 
proposition,  and  takes  advantajic  of  this  interval  to  introduce  into  the 

' 'I'lic  iL'lli  ••iiiil  l.'ltli  Were  (jcciiiiioil  in  cTussini,' tlu!  Aiiioriraii  ti-iHi|.s,  (•(iiiiiimii(lo.|  \,y 
ficiifial  l,inciilri,  (ivor  llic  Savaiiiiiili  river  :it  /,iilil)',i  lerry.  Oiitlio  urtcrnnon  nf  tlic  l.'itli, 
till!  lPHi],s  fn.iii  Aii-iistii,  undor  (loiirral  .McIiiKwii,  loriiiod  a  junctiun  with  tlicm.  Hoiiit; 
lulviscd  .111  (lie  l.lth  that  Count  D'HMuinj;  had  landed  and  that  ho  \v.,uld  tlnit  nij,'lit  taku 
l"ist  nint-  miles  IVcmi  Savannah,  (lenoral  Linculn  niuvcid  with  his  ontire  ciinnnand  and  v\\. 
camja'd  nt  ('herokco  Hill.  The  liilluwih-  day  the  I'rerieh  and  Ana  lienn  forces  wcro 
united  for  fulure  joint  operations  aLrairist  the  eity.  The  enemy  having'  destroyed  the 
hoals  ,.n  the  Savannah  river,  eonsideralile  delay  was  eneoun(ered  hy  Ueneral  Lineoln  in 
elVeeiinf;  ii  er.  ssin-  with  his  command  at  /uhly's  IVrry.  lint  <mo  canuo  being  found  at 
tirst,  and  General  Lincoln  heing  extremely  anxious  to  throw  sonui  cavalry  across  the 
river  so  that  they  could  reconnoitre  and  follow  the  movements  of  the  enemy,  I'uhiski  ae- 
com|,lished  thisol.jecl  hysendin-one  man  at  ■!  time,  with  his  aeecoilremenls.  in  this  caiKJo 
and  swinimin-  the  horse  alonjrside.  ■•  In  this  manner"  says  Captain  lientalou,  "  between 
twenty  and  thirty  horse  accomplished  a  landing  on  the  other  hank,  ol'  wlinm  I'ulaski  j;ave 
me  the  command."  With  this  litllc  f  .rce  Captajn  l{entalou  at  once  prosed  forward,  find- 
in-  the  advanced  posts  of  tlie  enemy  evacuated,  until  late  in  the  eveninir  of  the  next  day 
he  came  in  si-hl  of  the  IJritish  lines  around  Savannah.  About  twelv  .,'clork  the  s-inn" 
ni,;:ht  he  was  joined  by  Count  I'ulaski  with  the  re.^t  of  the  l.e^iiori  and  .some  v.ilunteers. 
Karly  in  the  morning  an  express  was  overtaken  with  a  letter  fr.im   Counl   D'Kstaing  to 

•'';'"■'■■''  '■' I".'""l  als.  one  to  I'ulaski  in  which,  after  informing  him  of  his  landin.i,"  he 

''"''' r  '"''^'i'  tiattering  things,  "  that  kmiwing  C(,unt  I'ulaski  was  there,  lie  was  sure 

he  would  be  the  liist  to  join  him."  Although  it  r.nru'd  heavily.  I'ulaski  instantlv  hastened 
to  lieanlieu  where  he  foimd  ])'Ks(aiug.  ami  wlo're.  in  the  language  of  Cajitain"  I!,.ntalo„, 
the  two  •■cordially  embraced  and  expressed  mutual  happiness  at  the  nu'eting."  The 
junction  of  (ieneral  Lincoln's  forces  with  those  of  Count  U'Kstaing.  bei'ore  Savannah,  was 
eflected  on  the  Klih.  See  Letter  of  General  J.incolu  to  C,ui-rcss.  umler  date,  Charleston 
October  I'L',  1 7Tlt. 

-This  demand  was  made  by  Count  D'K.stain..-  before  General  Lincoln  had  effeetcd  a 
.liinetion  will,  him.  -CncNr  D'Lsr.viN.i  sc.mmons  his  Kxcki.i.hncv.  Gknkii.m,  I'lu;- 
viisT,  TO  .SI  iiui;.m,i;h  iii.MsKi.f  n,  riiE  Aiims  of  iiis  .M.\,ii:.stv  tii*:  Ki.vii  m'  I'u.vnck," 
The  Count  was  flushed  with  the  victory  which  he  had  recently  won  by  the  defeat  of  Lord 
.Macartney  at  Grenada.  Compare  .hmnwl ,./  /I,,  Sirjr  of  Sncnmah.  Il!rhi,,t.,i,\  h',„,„l 
G<i:.,tl<,  No.  \V:a,  Dec.  II,  177!l. 

■  A  truce  of  only  twelve  hours  scorns  t.)  have  been  originally  contemplated.  It  was 
subsequently  extended,  however,  until  the  afternoiui  of  the  17th, 


IH 


siHtiH  or  SA  r.i.v.v.i// 


177!>.  cih-  Colonel  Mnitliiml.  witli  ^*ix  liiiiiilrtil  Scotclmicii  wliom  lie  Iia.l 
liroii-li)  I'lDiii  I'orl  Ifoviil.'  I''iimll_v  I'lvvo-'  uiihwims  tliiif  he  has  df- 
ciiU'd  to  (Icic'liil   llilll.xrir.-' 


Sc'pt.         MiiikIiiii.  'V\\v  s(|iiailrnii  olM.  (Ic  Mpivcs  rcMiiiiu'H  its  niu'lionifrc.     'I'lic 
'JIttli.     tVifiiiti's  /.((  Fni-hun'c  11)1(1  /.<'  liliuirlii  anchor  oil'  Ossaha  in  the  divisiun 
of  M.  dc  la  Motti'-iiiiinct.     'I'ht')'  oliscivr  on  hoard  the  (Icncral's  sliip 
tlic  siL'nal  to  hind  their  troops:  whicli  eomniand  is  exceuteil. 


2l8t.  TiKsiliu).    Diirin';  tiiis,  and  tiie  siieeeediny  seven  or  ei-lit  days,  (Vesl 

troops  iVoni  the  llt'et  iirrivt-  in  ciuiip. 


I 


oo 


I  Hi 


I.        ]\((hi(Kilii_i/.  At  seven  o'clock  in  liie  morning' onr  camp  is  moved  to 

I  CnlMiicI  Miiilliiiid  wii!<  Hi   H.'iiuliiit  wh.'ii  lie  was  siiirj cil  di  tliu  rclicliif  S.iviuuiali. 

H.'  bniii-lil  Willi  liiiii  adi  hirliiiu'iit  nf  iilioiil  fiulit  Imiiilivil  im^ri,  l-iuiiteimiit  Coloiiul 
('iii;;iT,  with  liis  Miiall  fdiiaiiaiid,  liail  iJivviim.il)-  leiiain'd  tniiii  Siiiiliury  and  united  liix 
forces  witli  tlioso  of  Ocriorid  JVevcwt. 

-'  '•  On  (he  evening'  of  the  IClh  Cdldnel  Maitland  arrived  at  Dawfiiskie,  and,  findin-  the 

paiisa^'e  up  the  river  in  jmsH'ssi f  the  l-'reneh.  he  wa.s  dldijxed  t.i  resiirt  t<i  surne  other 

way  (.f  •;ettiii;,'  irjlci  the  town.  While  he  was  endiarra,s.se.|  in  this  dilheiihy,  fortune  threw 
into  liis  hands  .some  nei/ro  DshiTnien  who  were  well  aei|iiainted  with  all  the  creeks  throu-h 
the  marsh,  and  who  informed  him  of  ii  passaj,'e  called  Wall's  cut,  through  Scull  creek,  hy 
which  sniall  boats  eould  jiass  at  hi;ih  water.  The  tide  and  a  thick  fo-  favored  the  exc'eu- 
tion  (if  his  plans  and  enabled  liini  with  -reat  dithenlly  to  -et  throu-h.  On  the  ensuin;.' 
■''•'■I'' "  '"'  'eaelnd  the  town,  unpcreeived  by  the  i'Vcnch.  'J'he  aeiinisition  of  this  for- 
midable reeiiforeement,  lieaded  by  an  .'xperienccd  and  brave  ofliecr,  clfecled  u  complete 
change  in  the  dispirited  garrison.  A  sigmil  was  made,  and  three  cliecrs given  which  rung 
fnJiii  one  end  of  the  town  to  the  other."  [M'Vatl'a  llUlmi/  o/  Cunjin,  vol.  n,  j,  L'.'t.'i.'] 
Compare  lliiiiKjUm'x  Jini/iil  (iiKittr.  No.  ii.'U,  Dec.  II,  177!), 

Thus  strcn,i;thened,  I'revost  who  had  procrastinated  in  order  that  he  might  coMcentrate 
wiihin  the  lines  of  Savannah  ihi.s  formidable  detachnimt  with  its  gallant  and  experienced 
conimuuder,  immediately  responded  "the  unanijnous  Determinatimi  has  been  that  though 
we  cannot  look  upon  our  Tost  as  absolutely  impregnable  yet,  that  it  may  and  on-ht  t(j  be 
defended  :   therefore,  the  evening  fiun  to  be  lired  this  Kvening,  at  an  ilour  belore  Sun- 

d(jwn.  shall   be  the   Signal  I'or  rci imencing    Hostilities,  agreeable  to  your   Ivxcellency's 

I'ropo.sal."  During  the  Confederate  struggle  for  Imlependenee,  this  Wall's  cut  afforded 
the  United  States  Gun  Itoals  the  means  of  entering  Savannah  river  in   the  rear  of  I'ort 

i'ulaski.  wilhuut  encountering  the  fire  of  its  batteries;  thereby  c plulely  isolating  that 

fortification,  and  covering  I'ederal  wiuking  parties  engaged  in  the  erection  of  investing 
bnttcrioa  at  \'enns's  point  and  on  the  mirth  end  of  IJird's  island. 


s //■:/;/:  of'  s.l  IM.V.V.I/A 


19 


I 


I 
^1 


Iji'.K  a  \i>ni\hy  six   luiiidivil   toiscs  [I'JOO   yunls]  ili.^lniit  iVom  (lie  city  of 
Siiviinimli.     Tlii.s  city,  .situiitcd  on  tiu!  .soiitiicni  hank  of  a  river  ol*  tlio 
.xMinr  name,  appcarH  to  he  liuilt,  witli  considcraMc  rc^nlarity,  oC  wood 
ami  luicli,  npon  a  nniforni  plain  witii  a  samiy  soil,  and  if<  hounded  on 
tlie  south  hy  n  forest  of  thinly  scattered  pines,  and  on  the  north  hy  the 
river  Sii vaniiali.     Froiu  east  to  west  it  Inw  an  extent  of  ahout  nix  hun- 
dred toises  [lliOO  yards],  and  in  depth   is  eonsideral.ly  narrower.      It 
did  not  seem  to  us  that  it  [lossessed  puhlic  huildiii-s  other  than  a  tem- 
ple [chiu'ch]  which  occu[)ies  a  central  position.'     On  the  ri;;ht  and  left 
are  two  swami)s  which   render  it  inaccessihie  from  those  directions. 
The  enemy,  with  a  frij- ate  carrying'  uine-po(nider  guns,  and  two  galleys 
armed  with  eighteen  poun<lerguns,  stationed  in  the  river  at  the  western 
extremity  of  the  city,  had  nothing  to  fear  from  the  rear,  or  from  the 
right  and  left.     It  was  noeossary  therefore  to  i)rovide  for  the  defense 
only  of  the  front  or  .southern  exposure  of  the  city.     [lero  the  enemy 
had  an  entrenchment  and  .several  batteries,  the  approach  to  this  en- 
trenchment heing  deli'mled   hy  a  hut  is,  pidiMndes,  and  vhcruHj'  dc  /Hm: 
These  works  were  strengthened  hy  three  redoubts  i)Iaced  triangidarlv 
at  the  extremity  or  western  part  of  the  line,  and  two  mortar  batteries, 
eiU'h  moimting  three  or  four  pieces,  which  alforded  a  cross  lire  with 
two  other  redoubts  erected  in  advance  of  the  left  of  the  entrenchments. 
Such   was  the  situation  of  the  enemy  at  the  time  of  our  arrival ;   but 
the  Knglish  improved  the  interval  employed  by  us  in  the  erection  of 
our  counter  l)atteries,  by  strengthening  their  position  and  by  throwing 
up  new  works. 

Our  army  which  had  taken  up  the  line  of  march  at  sovon  o'ehu'k  in 
the  morning  to  form  a  new  camp  six  hundred  toises  [1200  yards]  dis- 
tant from  the  city,  arrived  at  eight  o'clock  at  the  place  of  encampment. 
It  was  a  wood  of  scattered  pines  through  which  we  coidd  okserve  the 

I  The  ruioroMce  is  pr.ibably  to  C/irixl  Church;  that  is  tho  nrUjlmd  Umhiin.i,  whirli  of- 
cupioJ  tlio  sito  ol'  tlio  prtwnt  slnii'ture.  Thu  city  of  .'^.•iv.iniiiili  eouhl  not,  iit  tliis  time, 
b.mst  of  more  than  lour  Imndiml  and  tliirty  houso.'i.  Using  the  present  names  of  the 
streets,  its  boundaries  were  the  ii^you  the  north,  LUioiln  MrcH  on  tho  east,  Hmilh  linmd 
street  on  tiie  south,  und  Jeferm,  »lre,:t  on  tho  west.  Outside  the  limits  indicated,  were 
some  scattering  Iiouses  ;  particularly  to  tlie  east  und  west. 


20 


SIKGK  OF  SAY  AX  XML 


1779.  lioiises  of  Savammli.  Iloro  tlio  troe.x  wore  cut  down  lor  a  space  suni- 
cieiit  to  aceoimiUKlatc  tlie  I'licainpniont,  which  occiipiod  about  sixteen 
liundred  toises  (::J200  yards),  connnencing  at  tlie  swamp  to  tlio  enemy's 
right,  or  (m  the  west  of  the  eity,  and  extending  to  the  swamp  on  ids  left, 
or  on  the  east  of  tlie  city.  Quiet  reigned  on  the  northern  side  of  the 
city  looking  toward  the  river,  in  whieii  the  armed  store-ship  LoTndte, 
carrying  a  battery  of  twelve  poinulor  guns,  and  the  two  galleys  mount- 
ing eighteen  and  twenty-four  pounder  guns,  had  a  second  time  taken 
position  to  hold  in  cheek  the  Kngiish  frigate  and  two  galleys  which  con- 
stituted the  only  force  the  enemy  had  iu  that  quarter. 

The  sole  intention  of  the  General  was  so  to  dispose  his  army  as  to 
completely  invest  the  city  on  its  southern  side.  The  American  troops, 
numbering  twelve  hundred  militia,  two  regiments,  and  one  hundred 
and  thirty  hussars  and  dragoons  connnanded  by  Count  Tulaski,  were 
encamped  on  the  right  of  the  city,  resting  upon  the  swamp  which  bor- 
ders it  on  that  side.  The  division  of  .M.  de  Noailles,  composed  of  nine 
liundred  men  of  the  regiments  of  Champagne,  Auxerrois,  Foix,  Guade- 
loupe and  Martinique,  camped  to  the  right  of  the  Americans. 

The  General's  division,  comprising  one  thousand  men  of  the  regiments 
of  Candjresis,  Ilainault,  the  volunteers  of  Herges,  Agenois,  Gatinois, 
the  Cape,  and  I'ort  au  Prince,  and  the  artillery,  Mas  on  the  right  of  the 
division  of  Noailles  and  formed  the  centre  of  the  French  ari'ny. 

Dillon's  division,  composed  of  nine  hundred  men  of  the  regiments  of 
Dillon,  Armagnac,  and  the  Vohniteer  Grenadiers,  was  posted  on  the 
right  of  the  General. 

To  the  right  of  Dillon's  division  were  the  powder  magazine,  the  cat- 
tle depot,  and  a  small  field  hospital. 

0,1  the  rigiiL  and  a  little  in  advance  of  the  depot  were  the  quiirtcrs 
of  the  dragoons  of  Conde  and  ol'  13elzunce,  numbering  fifty  men  and 
commanded  by  M.  Dijean. 

Upon  the  same  alignment  and  to  the  right  of  the  dragoons,  was  M. 
de  liouvrai  with  his  ^'olunteer  Chasseurs  numbering  seven  hundred  and 
fifty  men. 


sii:ge  of  savaxxmi. 


21 


177!).  To  tlio  riglit,  and  on.'  luiiidrod  toisos  [liOO  yards]  in  advance  of  .AF. 
dc  Rouvnii,  was  M.  Dos  Franiais,  commanding  tlio  CJivnadicr  Voluii- 
tcers  and  two  hundred  men  of  dilTorcnt  n-imonts.  Hi;  ellcctually 
closed  the  right  of  our  army  and  rested  upon  the  swamp  whicli  bounded 
tlie  cily  on  the  east,  or  its  left. 

One  perceives  from  these  dispositions  that  Savannah  was  completely 
shut  in  from  tiie  front,  in  rear,  and  on  each  side. 

Independently  of  the  frigate  La  Truile'  and  the  two  gallejs  which 
had  reascended  the  river  until  within  cannon  shot  of  the  city,  the  fri- 
gate Ln  Chlmere  and  the  armed  store  ship  La  Jiricole,  which  it  was 
found  impossible  to  carry  up  the  river  to  a  point  whence  the  city  could 
be  bombarded,  served  to  cut  olT  all  communications  with  the  islands 
formed  by  the  numerous  river-mouths  which  bathe  the  coast  ol"  Georgia. 
Having  established  our  camp,  we  took  possession  of  a  largo  and  beau- 
tiful house,  distant  two  leagues  from  the  city  and  situaied  at  a  place 
called  Tlumder-bolt  bluff-  on  the  bank  of  an  outlet  of  the  Savannah 
river,  that  wo  might  here  locate  our  hospital.  This  served  afterwards 
as  the  point  from  whi.'h  we  communicated  with  the  (loot;  it  being  more 
accessible  and  nearer  than  IJeaulieu,  which  was  abandoned. 


Sept.         Waotmhtij,  iit  nine  o'clock  in  the  evening,  M.  do  Noaiiies  orders  M. 

22nd.  doGuillauiiie,  lieutenant  of  Crenadiors  in  the  regiment  of  Guadeloupe, 
with  fifty  men  detailed  from  the  differi'ut  regiments  composing  the  di- 
vision of  Noiulles,  to  take  possession  of  an  advanced  post  of  the  enemy. 
M.  Guiilaiime,  carried  away  by  his  courage,  disregards  the  instructions 
of  the  Viscount  do  Noaillos  and,  being  incautious,  rushes  straight  upon 
the  enemy,  attacking  with  full  force  a  post  which  should  have  Ijoon  cap- 
tured by  surprise.  The  enemy  perceives  and  balUes  his  attempt.  1  [e  is 
repulsed  i)y  a  very  lively  fire  of  artillery  and  musketry.  M.  do  Noaillos, 
who  followed  clo.sely  to  sui)port  him,  appears  in  person  on  the  spot  and 

I  This  vessel  anchored  in  the  fiaek  river,  nearly  ojiposite  llie  eity  of  Savannah,  and 
fired  across  t!.e  .^astern  end  of  llut.'hin.son's  island.  The  -alleys  were  posted  lower  down 
the  river  and  williin  cannon  shot  of  (he  enemy's  eastern  lines. 

•-'  In  the  .MSi.  written  Tuiuln-htdllilitf. 


22  SIEGE  OF  SAVAXXAIT. 

1779.  seoiiis  tlmt  success  was  impotssiblo,  ordtM's  a  retreat  during  which  we 
lose  lour  soldiers  of  the  regiment  of  Guadeloupe.  M.  de  Grangies.  a 
second  lieutenant  of  the  regiment  of  Port  an  Prince,  who  was  with  him, 
and  several  men  are  wounded. 

On  this  occasion  M.  Koger,  of  the  advanced  guard,  has  two  men 
killed  and  two  wounded. 


Sept.         Thtrsihi/.  At  three  o'clock  i-.M.  a  trench  is  opened  one  hundred  and 
2;]rd.    lil'tj  toises  [.'JOU  yards]  from  the  enemy's  works.     Si.K  companies  of 

picked  troops  are  detailed  for  the  protection  of  the  working  parties, 

who  complete  their  labors  before  daylight  without  being  disturbed  by 

the  enemy  who  had  not  observed  their  operations. 

M.  de  Rouvrai,  colonel  of  the  Volunteer  Chasseurs,  commanded  in 

the  stead  of  M.  de  Dillon  who  was  sick  to-day.     He  had  for  his  second 

oHicer  iM.  Udune,  lieutenant  colcjuel  of  the  army. 


24th. 


Fi-ichii/.  At  seven  o'clock  in  the  morning,  when  a  thick  i'og  whidi 
arose  at  daylight  had  disappeared,  the  enem^-  perceiveil  our  works 
and  made  a  sortie  with  six  hundred  men  to  attack  us.  They  are 
repulsed  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet  and  driven  back  to  their  entrench- 
ments. Our  imprudence  in  leaving  our  trench  to  pursue  them  exposed 
us  to  the  artillery  fire  of  their  redoubts  and  batteries,  and  caused  the 
loss  of  seventy  men  killed  and  wounded;  among  whom  were  several 
olllcers.     It  is  believed  that  the  enemy  sustained  a  loss  equally  great.^ 

M.  de  Sauce,  an  artillery  odicer,  reconnoiters  a  position  on  the  left 

'  Tlie  Kiifilish  aecoiiiits  affirm  that  tliis  sortie  was  made  with  throe  companies  of  J.ight 
JriCantry,  unJer  Major  Graham,  lor  tiie  purpose  of  eutiein-  the  Kreuch  out  of  their  lines 
so  that  something  like  a  eorrect  estimate  of  the  besiogin};  forces  might  bo  formed.  It  is 
claimed  that  the  scheme  succeedod.  AFajor  Graham  was  pursued  by  a  heavy  column  of 
French  wjldiers  who,  pressing  him  closely,  wore  drawn  within  range  of  the  Kiiglish  bat. 
teries  which  delivered  a  galling  fire.  The  liritish  acknowledge  a  loss  of  twenty-olie  killed 
and  wounded.     Among  the  former  was  Lieutenant  .McPhcrson  of  the  71st  regiment. 

See  also,  Ramsny's  IHalori/  of  the.  lifvoliilion,  He,  vol.  II,  p.  :i7.     'I'renton,  .Mixrr.-X.xxv. 

("omparo  nidwjluns  h\i,ol  (;„::rltr,  N^).  .TM,  Dec.  11,  1770,  in  which  the  English 
casualties  are  reported  at  "I  !<ubaltern  and  3  I'rivates  killed,  and  I.',  woun.led,"  \hc 
French  loss  is  estimated  at  "  11  OfEecrs  and  145  Privates  killed  and  wounded." 


SJEOE  OF  SAVAXXAJf. 


23 


1779.  of  our  trench  .siiitiiblc  for  the  locution  of  a  buttery.     He  commences  its 
construction  at  night  hill,  and  completes  it  beibrc  day. 

Sept.  At  seven  o'clociv  on  Saturday  morning  this  battery,  with  four 
25th.  embrasures  in  which  only  two  eighteen  pounder  guns  had  been  mounted, 
opens  fire  upon  the  city  with  little  ell'ect.  Nevertheless,  the  General 
orders  this  battery  to  be  remodelled  so  as  to  mount  twelve  18  and  12 
pounder  guns  :  further,  that  anotlicr  battery,  to  contain  thirteen  18 
pounder  guns,  should  be  constructed  on  the  right  of  the  trench,  and 
that  no  hring  should  take  place  luitil  everything  was  finished.  lie 
also  directed  that  a  bomb  battery  of  nine  mortars  should  be  located 
one  hundred  toises  [200  yards]  to  the  left  and  a  little  in  rear  of  the 
trench,  by  the  side  of  which  it  was  decided  to  erect  a  battery  of  six  IG 
poiuider  guns  for  the  Americans. 


Monihijj.  At  one  o'clock  in  the  morning,  the  enemy  sends  a  strong 
detachment  to  make  a  close  reconnoissance  ol"  our  trench.  It  is  dis- 
covered and  compelled  to  retire. 

The  same  day  we  are  informed  in  camp  of  the  capture  of  tlie  ship 
Experiment,'  of  fifty-four  guns,  by  tlie  .Sw/lftairr.  .She  was  loaded  with 
supplies  for  Savannah,  with  wine,  beer,  rum,  cloth,  and  seven  hundred 
thousanil  [nnuKh  of  army  rations.  She  also  carried  a  general  ollicer- 
who  was  to  have  supplanted  Provost  in  the  connnand  of  Savannah. 

We  commence  the  battery  on  the  right  of  the  trench,  at  the  same 
time  vigorously  pushing  the  construction  of  that  on  the  left,  and  prose- 
cuting our  work  upon  the  bomlj  battery.  Tlie  enemy  does  not  perceive 
our  operations,  and  gives  us  but  little  annoyance.  At  imlf  past  twelve 
o'clock  at  night  a  patrol,  composed  of  some  ol'  our  soldiers  and  work- 
men, causes  a  very  sad  mistake.  Despite  the  precautions  of  M.  de 
I'ont-devaux,  the  oHicer  of  the  day,  and  M.  de  Tr(:'cesson,  second  in 

I  This  sliip,  coiniiiiUKloil  by  Sir  Junius  WMms,  was  captiirod  on  the  '.'Ith.  Having 
h)st  hcf  bow-spi-it  aiul  masts  ii,  a  gale  eucouiitcred  during  her  passage  from  Xcw  York" 
slio  couUl  iiU'cr  but  I'eoblo  n'sistanoo. 

■-'  iMajiir  tienoral  (iartli. 


24 


SI  ECU-:  OF  SAVAXXAII. 


1779.  conniiaiid.  Ave  were  nnublo  to  prevent  the  troops  in  the  trendies,  who 
were  under  the  impression  tliat  they  saw  tlie  enemy  approaching  in 
force,  from  delivering  a  heavy  lire  upon  our  working  parties,  which 
entailed  upon  us  a  loss  of  fifteen  men,  kilU'd  and  wounded.  The  same 
error  is  repeated  at  four  o'clock  in  the  morning,  the  fire  from  the 
trenches  being  however,  of  shorter  duration  and  less  lively,  and  the 
laborers  on  this  occasiim  sufi'ering  a  loss  of  only  two  men.  The  alarm 
created  by  this  tiring  spreads  through  our  camp,  and  M.  de  Noailles 
advances,  Avith  his  division  in  colimin,  through  the  mortar  battery  to 
a  point  between  the  trenches  and  the  city  with  the  intention  of  inter- 
cepting the  sortie,  lie  ascertains  the  mistake  and  causes  his  troops  to 
return.' 

Oct.  Saiunhij.  The  ship  Lh  Tnnk  and  the  galle3s  open  a  heavy  can- 

2nd.     nonade  upon  the  citj-  with  little  elfect. 


3rd. 

to 

4th. 


At  midnight,  on  Monday,  the  bombardment  begins. 

Ciiptaiii  M'Call*  gives  u.s  a  tlilloront  vor-i.ui  uf  tliis  alTaii-.      11 


It  ceases  at 


esays:  "  On  the  uiiilit 

of  the  L'Tt).  .Ma,i„r  Arcl.ibald  M'Artlair.  witli  a  ,lc(a.Omicnt  of  the  7Ist  rogiincnt.  made  a 
sortR.  to  attack  the  allies  in  some  liattorios  which  they  were  fo.istruetiiig  to  mount  some 
heavy  cannon.  After  coiumeneing  the  attack  briskly,  he  retired  uuperceived.  The 
French  attempted  to  gain  his  left  flank,  and  the  Americans  his  right.  .M'Arthur  retired 
so  suddenly  and  silently  that  the  right  and  left  ol'the  allies  commenced  a  brisk  lire  upon 
each  .ither,  and  several  lives  were  lu.st  before  the  mistake  was  discovered. 

-  The  allied  army  opened  the  h.imhardment  with  lllty  three  pieces  of  heavy  cannon  and 
fourteen  mortars.  Stedmau'.t  J/is/ony  „/  ih,-  Anu-rhnn  War,  vol.  Il,  p.  127.  j.ondon, 
nni.  Compare  Lr,'s  Mmairs,  ,tr.,  vol.  i,  p.  1(1,^,  Philadelphia,  1812.  ])r.  Hamsay 
states  that  "  the  besiegers  opened  with  nine  mortars,  thirty  seven  pieces  of  cann„n  from 
the  landside,  and  si.xteen  Ir.mi  the  water."  Jfislan/  ,./  //„•  J{.i-oh,liuu,  .1,:,  vol.  n,  p.  38. 
Trenton,  .miktlxx.w.  Compare  dor^hm',  llUlury  nf  the  UiilNd  Slohx,  ,t,:,  vol.  nt,  p. 
328.  London,  .mdcci.xx.wiii.  M,„..h,il!'s  Llfi  of  Wufhlwjtu,,.  vol.  iv,  p.  !HI.  I'hila- 
delphia,  ISIl.j. 

]{y  a  shell  from  the  bomb  batterv  „l  I)  mortars,  Ensign  I'ullard  of  the  .^ec.md  I!allali,m 
of  Gen.  De  Laneey's  tirigade  was  killed  in  a  house  on  the  ]!ay.  A  daughter  of  .Mrs. 
Thonip.son  was  killed  in  the  same  locality  by  a  solid  shot. 

In  couimcuting  upon  the  ell'ect  of  the  bombardment,  T.  \\ .  Moore,  who  was  an  aid-de- 

*  lli.-t'n-!i  of  nem-ni.,,  vol.  ll,  ),.  i.-,l).  Sec  also  «,(/»(«;, \,  Ill^tni-ii  „f  t/„  .1  mrri.-ai,  ]V,n:  v,,).  ii, 
!>.  I','7, 1,oii(!(in,  ITOl.  ruimmii's  Jlhtory  of  thv  Iktvlutioit ,(,-.,  v..l.'  ii,  ji.  ;i8,  Trciil,.n,  Mi.c  n.x.v.w' 
donlon'a  Hhtory  of  the  United  States,  etc.,  vol,  iir,  p.  ;c>8,  London,  Mucc  i.x.xxviu. 


S11:GE  OF  SAVAXXAH.  2,') 

HTO^  two  o'clock,  bj  order  of  M.  do  Noaillos,  because  tlie mis-directed  bomb.s  fell   ' 
in  great  iuiiiiber.s  in  the  trench  which  he  conunanded.     This  bad  firing   ' 
was  occasioned  by  a  mistake  of  a  ship's  steward  who  had  sejit  to  the 
cannoneers  a  keg  of  rum  instead  of  a  keg  of  beer. 


Oct. 
4th. 


Momhuj.  At  i'our  o'clock  in  the  morning,  the  enemy's  beat  of  drum 
at  day-break  furnishes  the  signal  fur  unmasking  our  batteries  on  the 
right  and  lel't  ol'  the  trench,  and  that  of  the  Americans  to  the  left  of 
the  mortar  battery,  and  we  begin  to  cannomule  and  bombard  the  city 
and  the  enemy's  works  with  more  vivacity  than  precision.  The  can- 
noneers being  still  under  the  influence  of  rum,  their  excitement  did  not 
allow  them  to  direct  their  pieces  with  proper  care.  Besides,  our  pro- 
jectiles did  little  damage  to  works  which  were  low  and  constructed  of 
sand.  The  ellect  of  this  very  violent  lire  was  fatal  only  to  the  houses 
and  to  some  women  who  occupied  them.' 

Protected  by  their  entrenchments,  the  enemy  could  not  have  lost 
many  men,  if  we  may  judge  from  the  effect  of  their  lire  upon  our  works 
which  had  been  constructed  liastily,  and  with  far  less  skill  and  care 
than  tlieirs.- 

All  our  batteries  ceased  firing  at  eight  o'clock  in  the  morning  that 
we  might  repair  our  left  battery  which  had  been  shaken  to  pieces  by 
Its  own  fire.     A  dense,  fog  fiivors  our  workmen.     We  open  fire  again 

camp  to  General  I'revost  durin-  tl.c  siojro,  sajs  that  the  town  was  t.,rn  to  pieces  by  the 
shells  and  shot,  and  that  the  sliricks  of  women  and  ehiUlron  were  lieard  on  every  side 
"  .Many  poor  eroatures,"  he  adds,  "were  killed  in  trying  to  get  in  their  cellars,  or  hide 
themselves  under  tlie  bluff  of  Savannali  river." 

'  During  tile  progress  of  the  siege,  considerable  diimage  was  done  to  buildiiL-s  and  per- 
sonal property  in  the  town  of  Savannali,  by  the  fire  from  the  investing  batteries  \nion- 
other  premises,  the  quarters  of  Anthony  Stnkes,  (^hief  .Justice  of  the  colony,  were  burned 
by  a  siiell  from  the  allied  army,  and  most  of  his  papers  were  destn.yed.  IVmi-  ,>f  the 
(\m.UM„m  oflh,-  BnlM  Chm..,  r/c,  I'reface  iii,also  p.  110.    I,ondon,  MDCCI.XXXIII 

-  In  or.lcr  to  avoid  the  projectiles,  (Jovernor  Sir  James  Wright  and  Lieutenant  Gov- 
ernor  John  Graham,  on  the  4th  of  October,  moved  out  of  the  town  and  occupied  a  tent 
next  to  Colcinel  Maitland's.  on  the  right  of  the  British  lines. 


26  'SUJGI-J  OF  SAVAXXA//. 

rn^  at  ton  o'cliKk  in  tliu  niornino-,  aiul  continuo  it  with  little  intoniii.ssion 

until  Ibnr  o'clock  iil'tcr  midnight.' 
Oct.  ("iiinioniuling  aiul  honibariling  at  long  intervals.     Wc  begin  to  lose 

6th.      conlidence  upon  discovering  that  all  this  heavy  firing  will  not  render 

the  assault  less  dillicult.     We  should  not  have  constructed  works.     In 

doing  so  we  allorded  the  English  time  to  strengthen  theirs.     We  regret 

that  we  did  not  attack  on  the  very  first  day.- 


1   .■ 


7th.  rhnrsihy.  A  very  lively  cannonade.     We  bonihai'd  and  throw  car- 

casses into  Savannah  which  set  the  city  on  fire  ibr  the  third  time. 

'  Tho  liombardiiieiit  of  tl.c  5th  wa.s  um.s..ally  severe.  -A  Mulutlo  .Man  and  tl.rco 
Nejiiues  were  killed  in  the  Lieutenant  Governor's  ("eliar.  In  the  Jiveninjr,  the  House  of 
the  Late  Mrii.  Lloyd,  near  the  Church,  was  burnt  hy  a  shell,  and  seven  Xejiroes  lost  their 
Lives  in  ii.  WhiLst  the  House  was  on  I'ire,  one  of  the  hottest  Cannonadin-s  lliey  had  yot 
made  was  kept  up  to  prevent  I'eoplc  from  extiufiuishin.L:  the  Flames.  In  the  \i-ht  another 
Shell  tell  thn,u-h  Mr.  Laurie's  House  in  liroughton  Street,  which  killed  two  Women  and 
two  Children  who  were  under  it."     Ii!r!w,tnns  Royal  Gur.vltc,  No.  3;U,  Dec    11,  \"\) 

■-'  When  the  French  Heet  Hrst  appeared  off  the  (Jor-i.-i  coast  the  Kn-lisl'i  had  but  twenty- 
three  pieces  of  cannon  mounted  upon  their  works  amund  Savannaii.  On  the  day  of  the 
assault  one  hundred  and  twenty-three  guns  were  in  jinsition.*  Intelligent  Ifritish  oilieers 
who  were  present  during  the  siege,  admitted  that  the  Froich  army  alone  could  have' 
carried  the  c.ty  in  ten  minutes,  without  the  aid  of  artillery,  had  the  assault  been  made  at 
the  earliest  moment. 

The  energy  and  skill  displayed  by  the  Knglish  in  strengtheninir  their  old  w,uk«  in 
erecting  new  ones,  in  dismantling  tlie  vessels  of  war  in  the  river  and  placing  their  -'uus 
in  battery  to  the  south,  east,  and  west  of  Savannah,  and,  above  all,  the  introduction  of 
Colonel  .Maitlaiid's  forces  into  the  city  at  a  most  opportune  moment,  leHect  great  credit 
upon  those  charged  with  the  defense 

If.  in.stead  of  parleying,  D'Kstainghad  insisted  upon  an  immediate  response  to  his  sum- 
mons for  surrender,  the  probabilities  are  that  I'revost  would  have  acceded  to  his  demami 
Had  he  refused,  there  is  little  doubt  but  that  the  investing  army  could  immediately 
have  swept  over  the  half  finished  entrenchments,  and  restored  the  capital  of  Georgia 
to  the  possession  id'  the  itevolutionists.      Helay  proved  fatal  to  the  enterprise. 

* '^te.lman  ■■  asserts  that  wlien  the  Fivi.rh  (ir.st  l„mle.l  ••  not  more  tl.an  ten  or  twelve  |,i..c,.s  of 
arnllery  a|,|w«re,l  upon  the  fortifi..ations  „t  Savunnal.  ;  but  so  ineessanllv  did  the  .r,„.,is„„  l„bor  in 
strenjrtheningaial  enlariring  the  .,1,1  works,  and  in  erecting  new  n-douhl's  an.l  l,atteri,-s  thai  l,ef„re 
the  con,.lusioi.  of  th.'  siep.  near  one  liundred  pie.es  ..r.ann.m  w,.r.-  ni..iinl...l  " 

■■  On  ih..  «p|,r.«,.-h  ..r  ih,.  Fn.nch,"  says  <f..neral  Henry  I,..,..  ••  lew  guns  w..,v  ni,mnt,..I  in  ,h,. 
w.,iks.,l  Ih,.  lM,..iny  ;  Imt  sn..h  had  Imtu  the  vast  exertions  ..t  li..n.T»l  I'levosl,  that  n.nv  n.arlv 
"""  '"""''•' '-li'Ii-'-''"!  calihers  wer.'  in  lull   array,"     M,  „n,ir.,  .1,:,  vol.  i,  ,,.  in:)      }M,iIu.l..l,,hiu 


"  Ilhtvnj  n/l/it  Armriaiii  ]y,ir.  viil,  ii,  |)   lis.    I,uii.l.iii,  17!ii, 


SIE<;  !■:  ()  F  SA  VA  XX.  I  /A  27 

wi      Wo  coii.stnict  ii  now  tvenrh  in  a.lvanoo  of  onr  loft  battory  to  persuade 

Oct.  7.  !''^'  ^■"^■'"•^  *'"^^  ^^'"'  ^"  ""''  '"^  ■>■'''*  contomplato  an  assault,  but  that  our 
■  intention  is  to  push  our  approaches  up  to  his  works. 


Stii. 


Fn</(,//.  We  cannonade  and  bombard  feebly.  The  onomy  does  little 
more,  lie  seems  to  be  husbandin-  his  strength  for  the  anticipated  at- 
tack. Informed  of  all  that  transpires  in  onr  army,  he  is  cognizant  of 
the  trilling  effect  produced  by  his  fire  upon  us  in  our  trenches.  Every- 
thing forces  us  to  tiie  conclusion  that  we  must,  on  the  morrow,  make  a 
general  assault  upon  the  city.  The  length  of  time  requisite  for  the 
operations  of  a  siege,  the  exhaustion  of  the  supplies  of  the  (leet,  and 
the  pressing  dangers  resulting  from  our  insecure  anchorage  decide  the 
General  to  take  this  step.' 


idem.  Provost  asks  permission  of  M.  D'Estaing  to  send  from  the  city  the 
women  and  children,  several  of  who-n  had  already  boon  killed  by  our 
bombs  and  cannon  balls.'^     To  this  request  the  Count  rotiu-ns  a  refusal.^ 

'  On  the  n.orni,,;.  „f  the  8th  Major  l/KnCant,  with  five  u.en,  despite  a  brisk  lire  from 
he  I5r,.,sh  hues,  succeeded  i,.  kindlius  the  a/.,,!,:..  The  dampness  of  the  atmosphere 
however,  and  the  .noisturo  of  the  newly  felled  trees  prevented  the  success  of  this  bold 
undertaking.  See  A>r,m«,/.s  /fi,ton,  of  the  Ueoolnthn,  etc.,  vol.  Ii,  p.  38  Trenton 
MDCCl.xxxv.  Cotupare  a„„/on,  llktory  of  the  UalUd  Slate,,  .^c,  vol  iir  p  3'>y 
Jjondon,  MDccr.xxxvni.  '  ^' 

^Captain  .lohnSin.pson  of  the  Ceorgia  Loyalists  was  killed   by  a  ..•ape   shot,  while 
walkM.j;  in  Major  \Vr,.hfs  redoubt.     Buri,     ,he  day  n.any  houses  were  dama-^ed     '^  Th e 
f.n.,,  .o,UuH.ed   ve,-yhotallXi.ht,auda  great  nun.ber  of  Shells  were  thro';vn;  one  of 
^vl,.ch  fell  ,n,o  the  Provost,  killed  two  Men  on  the  Spot,  and  wounded  nine  others  son 
of  when,  died  s,„ee.     Another  burst  in  the  Cellar,  uu,ler  the  Ofliee  of  the  Oo.un.issioner 

(.hums  k,l  ed  one  Negro,  and  wounded  another."     U;,-i.,t.„,,  R„,,„l  Oa.ette,  No.  334 

l-'t,C.    1  X  ,    1  I  j  iF,  ' 

'On  the  :i!.th  of  SeptMnber  "  (leneral  Mcintosh  solicited  (leueral  Lincoln's  permis- 
sw.n  to  send  a  flag.  w,th  a  letter  to  General  I'rovost,  to  obtain  leave  for  Mrs.  Mclnlo-h 
and  h,s  lan.,ly,  and  such  other  fen.ales  and  children  as  n.ight  choose,  to  leave  (he  town 
dunng  .he  s,ege  or  until  the  contest  shouhl  be  decided.  .Major  .Fohn  Jones,  aid  ,o  (icn- 
eral  Mc  nfnsh,  was  the  bearer  of  the  flag  and  letter,  and  found  Mrs.  Mcintosh  and  family 
-n  a  cellar,  where  tluj  bad  been  conliued  several  days.  Indeed,  tho.se  damp  apartn.ents 
lunnshcd  the  only  safe  retreat  for  females  and  children  during  the  sic^e  General  Pro 
vo.«t   refused  to  grant  the   request,  in.agining  that  it   would  restrai..  the   bcsic^e-s  from 


SIKGK  OF  SAVAXXAf/. 

Sdturdaij.  At  niiilniglit.'  we  takf  arms  and  tlic  ariiu-  is  lortiicd  in 
tlnvo  (•(.luiiiiis;  tlic  (irst.  coiiiiiiiiiKk-d  hy  M.  Dillon,  under  the  rienenil, 
the  second  by  M.  de  Steding,  eolonel  of  intantry,  and  the  third,  in- 
tended as  a  reserve  corps,  hy  the  Viscount  de  Noailles.  The  Americans, 
by  themselves,  constituted  n  third  column  of  attack;  and  the  troops  in 
the  trenches,  commanded  by  M.  de  .Sahliere,  supported  by  the  chasseurs 
of  Martinique,  were  to  make  a  sortie  for  a  feigned  attack.  The  van- 
guard, under  the  command  of  M.  de  Betisy,  moved  in  front  of  the 
(ieneral's  column.  It  was  ordered  to  take  possession  of  a  redoubt  on 
the  right  capable  of  inilicting  injury  on  the  (Ieneral's  column  which 
would  be  obliged  to  pass  it  in  making  its  attack  upon  the  enemy's 
entrenchments. 

At  this  [loint  the  cohunn  of  M.  de  Steding  was  to  incline  to  the  left, 
separate  it.self  from  the  other  cohnnns,  cross  the  road  leading  to 
Augusta,  and  assault  a  battery  and  the  entrenchments  on  the  enemy's 
extreme  right  occupied  by  Scotch  troops  under  the  couunand  of  .M.  de 
Maitland.  The  American  column  was  to  move  above  the  Augusta 
road  and  make  its  attack  between  the  two  French  columns 

When  these  three  columns,  each  divided  into  three  ba' talions,  should 
respectively  arrive  at  their  dill'erent  points  of  attack,  they  were  directed 
to  form  themselves  so  that  they  might  present  to  the  enemy  three  di.s- 
tinct  heads  of  columns  of  attack.     M.  de  Noaille.s,  with  his  reserve 

lliruwinj;  bjuibs  and  i-artMsses  aiiiDii^'  the  liouso.,  to  set  them  (Jii  firo."     M'CilCs  U'-unjln, 
V(j1.  II,  J).  L'fiO. 

Doubtless  this  refusal,  euupled  witli  the  faet  tliat  I'revost  liad  taken  ailvantayo  of  the 
truce,  consequent  upua  the  demand  for  a  surrender  of  the  eitv,  to  slrenixthen  bis  ])osition 
and  introduce  reinforcements,  influenced  the  commanders  of  the  allied  army  in  rejeetin" 
an  aii|ilication,so  humane  in  its  character,  which  otherwise  would  cert:iinly  have  received 
their  imm.Mliatc  sanction.  Such  is  the  intimation  given  in  the  letter  of  refusal  returned 
by  Count  D'lOstaing  and  General  Lincoln. 

"This  humane  rciiucst,"  says  Dr.  Kanisay,*  was,  from  motives  of  policy,  refused.  The 
combined  army  was  so  conlident  fjf  succe.>*s,  that  it  was  suspected  a  desire  of  sceretinir  the 
plunder  lately  taken  from  the  inhabitants  of  .'^outh  Carolina  was  a  considerable  olijeet 
covered  under  the  specious  veil  of  humanity.  It  was  also  presumed  that  a  rcfus.d  w.iuld 
expedite  a  surrender." 

1  i,c.  at  12  o'clock  I'.M   on  Triday. 

*IIi»tiinj  i'ftliL  li,  ru'iilion, ,  t<-.,  vul,  ii,  p.  0,9.     Trrntirn,  mihci.xxxv. 


Sli:(;i-:  OF  SA  IM.V.V.I/A 


29 


n"70^  corps,  was  t(M)(Tni)v  an  ('inincMuv from  wliirli  lH'n)nl(]()I)S(M-v<Mnvrvtl^ 
^  that  should  transpiiv.      In  tlic  event  of  success  lie  was  to  advauco  to 
the  most  suital)le  points  ;  and.  in  case  of  a  reverse,  cover  the  retreat. 
He  had  field  artillery  with  him. 

By  three  o'cdock  in  the  morning  all  our  dispositions  had  been  per- 
fected. At  the  head  of  M.  de  Stedin-'s  column  were  posted  sixty  vol- 
unteers selected  Ironi  all  the  corps  :  and  M.  Roman,  a  Freiudiman.  and 
mi  ollicer  (.f  the  American  Artillery,  was  put  in  command  of  them. 
This  ollicer  assured  us  that  he  had  built  the  defences  of  Savannah  and 
was  acquainted  with  all  its  environs.'  He  is  charged  with  the  cmiduct 
of  this  column.  We  commence  marching  hy  the  left  to  attack  the  city 
on  its  right,  where  its  western  side,  as  we  have  before  intimated,  is 
fortified  by  three  redoubts  located  triangularly.  The  troops  in  the 
trenches  were  ordered  to  make  the  false  attack  a  (luarter  of  an  hour 
betbre  day,  and  to  engage  the  enemy  prior  to  the  commencement  of 
the  true  attack.  The  columns  marched  by  divisions,  with  easy  gait 
and  leisurely,  that  they  might  arrive  at  the  point  of  attack  at  Uie 
designated  hour. 

Upon  emerging  from  the  woods  M.  de  Steding  asks  M.  Roman  how 
far  his  point  of  attack  was  from  the  redoubt  which  the  vanguard  was 

'  M.  H„„K.„  evi,lo.itly  rHcTrcl  to  the  Cortitications  which  had  been  cuustructod  hy  (he 

Amer,ca„s  l„r  the  prnteotio '  .S>va,.Mah,  then  the  capital  of  Georj^ia,  prior  to  the  c-iure 

0  .he  cty  by  (  „lonel  Campbell  in  Deccnber  1778.  The  resistance  offered  by  IJcncral 
Howe,  on  this  occa.sion,  wa.  feeble  and  confused.  Unable  to  retain  po.sscssion  of  the  city 
the  An.cncans  retired  with  a  lo.s  of  about  one  Innulred  killed  on  the  Ueld  or  drowned  in' 
the  retreat,  and  thirt.y-ei.^h.  otlieors  and  four  Inuulred  and  tlfiocn  privates  captured 
l'orty-c,j:bt  cannon  and  twcniy-thrce  n.ortar.s  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy*  It 
would  seen,  that  for  s.me  time  after  this  capture  the  Knglish  did  not  materially  Jilter  or 
.tren^then  the  works  which  they  found  existing  upon  the  eastern,  western,  and  southern 
e.xpo.sures  ol  the  cty.  fpon  the  appearance  of  the  I'reneh  fleet,  however  the  utn.n.t 
acfvity  was  displayed.  In  addition  to  the  garrison,  between  four  and  five  hundred 
negroes  were  put  lo  work  upon  the  lines;  and,  so  rapidly  did  the  labor  progress,  that 
betore  the  [•  reach  and  Anu'rican  batteries  opened  f,re,  the  IJritish  had  raised  around  the 
tmvn  thnteen  substantial  redoubts,  and  fifteen  gun  batteries,  u.ounting  eighty  pieces  of 
cannon  these  batteries  were  manned  by  sailors  from  the  Fowey,  the  IJo.se,  and  the 
Keppei,  and  by  mariners  and  volunteers  from  other  sliips  and  transports  in  the  river 
Hesides  these  guns  in  fi.xed  positions,  field  pieces  were  distributed  along  the  line. 
*See  Hammy,  HUl.ry  uf  the  ll,,..l„tl,.n,  ,t.:.  vol.  „, ,,.  (i.     Tr,-nt,.n.  mikxi.xx.vv. 


30  SIKdi:  OF  S.W.WXAll. 

1  mO.  to  assault.  M.  Roman,  wlio  (•oniniandcd  tlicsc  sixty  voliintoors  .simply 
in  tlic  rapacity  ol"  a  fjiiidc.  replied  lie  Iciu-w  iiotliiiif,'  licyoiid  his  own 
eonimand,  that  he  was  unac(|iiainted  witii  tlie  siirroiindiiif's  of  the  city, 
tiiat  the  works  had  hccn  altered  since  the  enemy  had  taium  po.ssession 
of  them,  and  that  ho  woidd  act  as  guide  no  lonfjer. 

At  live  o'clock  in  tiie  mornini;;  tiie  three  columns,  wliicli  had  observed 
a  similar  order  of  march,  arrived  within  about  eif,dity  toi.ses  [1(10  yards] 
of  tiie  edge  of  tiie  wood  which  borders  upon  Savannali.  Here  tlie 
liead  of  column  was  halted  and  we  were  ordered  to  form  into  platoons. 
Day  begins  to  dawn  and  we  grow  impatient.  Tliis  movement  is 
scarcely  commenced  when  we  are  directed  to  march  forward,  (luick 
time,  tiie  vanguard  inclining  a  little  to  tlie  right,  tlio  column  of  M.  de 
Steding  to  the  left,  and  the  column  of  tlu(  General  moving  straight  to 
the  front.  M.  de  Noailles,  with  his  reserve  corps,  proceeds  to  a  small 
eminence  from  wiiicii  lie  could  observe  all  our  movements  and  repair 
to  any  point  where  the  exigencies  might  demand  his  presence. 

At  iialf  past  five  o'clock  wc  hear  on  our  right  and  on  the  enemy '.s 
left  a  very  lively  (ire  of  musketry  and  of  cannon  upon  our  troops  from 
tlie  trenches  who  iiad  commenced  the  false  attack.^     A  [\'W  minutes 


'  Oil  tilt'  iii^:lit  lit'  tlio  Sth  iif  Ootolier,  .Iiuiics  Curry,  .sor^'oiuit  iiiiijur  of  tlio  Cliarleatuu 
Groiiadiors,  dcseited  to  tlie  eiioiiiy  and  ooiiiiiiuniciited  to  the  Kii^'lisli  the  geiicnil  pliiii  of 
attack  concerted  by  the  comiiiaiidors  of  the  allied  army.  Thus  advisicil  of  the  true  cha- 
racter of  the  a.ssault,  and  informed  .jI'  tin;  point  where  the  frciiuiiie  demonstration  would  be 
made.  I'rcvo.st,  leaviiij,'  only  a  .small  foii-e  to  -uard  the  left  .if  lii.s  works,  r  -■entrated 
his  troops  near  the  Sprinu'-ll  ill  and  Khene/.er  batteries,  anil  placed  I, ieutenant  Colonel  Jlait- 
laud  in  command  of  that  portion  of  the  line,  (leneral  Isaac  Huj,'er  wa.s  ordered,  with  five 
hundred  men  drafted  from  -the  militia  of  the  first  and  second  brigades,  general  William- 
son's, and  the  first  and  second  battalions  of  Charleston  .Militia,"  to  march  to  the  left  of 
the  enemy's  lines  and  remain  as  near  them  as  he  possibly  eoulil,  without  being  discovered, 
until  four  o'clock  in  the  tnorniiiir.  at  which  time  the  troops  from  the  trenches  were  to 
begin  their  attack  upon  the  Hritish  entrenchments.  He  was  then  to  advance  and  attack 
as  near  the  river  as  practicable.  Altlmngh  this  was  intended  simply  as  a  feint,  should  a 
favorable  opportunity  offer,  he  was  to  improve  it  and  push  into  the  town. 

.\ftcV  wading  half  a  mile  tliroiigh  the  rice  field  whii-h  bordered  the  city  on  the  east, 
General  linger  rcaehcil  his  point  of  attack  and,  at  the  appointed  time  and  place,  niiidc 
the  as.sault.  The  enemy  was  on  the  alert,  lie  was  received  with  music  and  a  heavy  fire 
of  cannon  and  mu>kctry,  before  which  he  retreated  with  a  loss  of  twenty-eight  men.  Xo 
other  demonstration   was  made  by  this  command.     The  attack   by  the  troops  I'roni  the 


sii:ai:  of  ,v.i  vaxxmi. 


31 


17711.  iirtci'wanJs  \vi'  aro  (liscovLTod  hy  tlu-  I'lK'iiiy'.s  .sciitiiu'ls  wlio  lire  a  few 
8liots.  Tlio  (ii'iRM'al  now  ordfi's  an  advance  at  double  (juick,  to  slioiit 
VIrc  k  lioij,  and  to  beat  tbe  charge.'  The  enemy  oi)en.s  upon  uh  a 
veiy  bri.sk  lire  of  artillery  and  nuisketry  which,  however,  doeis  not  pre- 
vent the  vanguard  from  advancing  ui)on  the  redoubt,  and  the  right 
column  upon  the  entrenehnients.  The  ardor  of  our  troopss  and  the 
dillicultie.s  ollered  by  the  ground  do  not  permit  u.s  long  to  preserve  our 
rank.s.  Disorder  begins  to  prevail.  The  head  of  the  colunni  pene- 
trates within  the  entrenchments  but,  having  marched  too  quickly,  is 
not  supported  by  the  rest  of  the  column  which,  arriving  in  confusion, 
is  cut  down  by  di.scharges  of  grape  shot  from  the  redoubts  and  batteries, 
and  the  musketry  lire  from  the  entrenchments.  We  are  violcntlv 
repulsed  at  this  point;  and,  instead  of  moving  to  the  right,  this  [Dillon's] 
colunni  and  the  vanguard  fall  back  toward  the  left.  Count  D'Estaiii" 
receives  a  musket  shot  almost  within  the  redoubt,  and  M.  Ik'tizi  is 
here  several  times  wounded. 

The  column  of  M.  de  Steding,  whidi  moved  to  the  left,  while  tra- 
versinga  muddyswamp  full  of  brambles,  lo.se.v  its  fonnation  and  nolonger 
preserves  any  order.  This  swamp,  upon  which  the  enemy's  entrench- 
ments rested,  formed  a  slope  which  .served  as  a  glacis  to  them.  The 
firing  is  very  lively ;  and,  although  this  column  is  here  most  seriously 
injured,  it  cros.ses  the  road  to  Augusta  that  it  may  advance  to  the 
enemy's  riglit  which  it  was  ordered  to  attack.  On  this  spot  nearlv  all 
the  Volunteers  are  killed.     The  Karon  de  Steding  is  here  wounded. 

trcnolR'S,  upon  the  centre  of  the  HrllLsh  lines,  wa.^  feebl)-  iniiintained  and  projneed  no 
inipre,s.sion.  It  \va.s  repulsed  hy  the  troops  under  tlie  command  of  J-ientenant  Colonel 
Hamilton  of  llie  .North  Carolina  regiment  of  Loy;lli^ts. 

1  Dr  Itanisay*  as.serts  tliat  the  real  attack  upon  the  .'^iiring.Ilili  battery  was  made  with 
three  thousand  five  hundred  Krench  troops,. -ix  hundred  Continentals,  and  three  hundred 
and  fifty  of  the  Charleston  .Alilitia. 

To  the  hrave  and  ueeoinplished  soldier,  fiieulenant  Colonel  Maitland,  did  General  I're- 
vost  assign  the  defense  of  his  right,  the  post  of  honor  and  of  danger. 

*lli.4,ir,i  „f  the  Hce.ftuti.m.  tir..  vol.  ir,  p.  ili).  Trenton,  mik,  i.\xxv.  Compar,'  M.ir^luiir^  I  i/c 
u/ iri-.«///».'/MH,  vol.  IV,  p.   Ull.     I'liiladi-lpliia.  ISO.-,. 

ThisslHIi'ini.ntof  the  slrenKlli  of  the  ussanlling  cihinms  is  adoptod  hy  Dr.  (fonlon,  Ulistory 
of  the  Lhidd  SltiUa,de.,\o\.  n\,\\'AW>.     l.ondon,  .MDtci.xxxviii.) 


32 


SIHdl-:  OF  .V.ITM. V.V.I//, 


1770.  Till'  coliimii  iifM.  IVKsliiin-r,  and  tlif  kiiuIm'iI  vimfiiiiinl  which  hud  rc- 
'~^  tivati'd  to  till"  left,  at  rived  here  as  soon  as  the  coliiimi  of  M.  di'  Sti'din<j; 
and  thivw  it  into  uttiT  conrusion.  At  this  nionu'nt  cvcrytliin^r  is  in 
siiiii  disorder  that  tlic  rorrnatioiiH  are  no  loii;;er  preserved.  The  road 
to  Aiif,Mista  is  ehol<ed  ii|).  Jt  here.  Iietwc  en  two  iiiipraetieahle  morasses, 
consists  of  an  artilieial  causeway  upon  which  all  our  soldiers,  who  had 
disenjiaged  themselves  from  the  swamps,  eoUected.  Wo  are  crowded 
together  anil  badly  pressed.  Two  eighteen  poinider  gnns.  upon  field 
carriages,  charged  with  eannister  and  [»laced  at  the  head  of  the  road, 
caus(>  terrible  slaughter.  The  musketry  fire  from  the  entrenchments 
is  concentrated  upon  this  wpot  and  upon  the  swamps.  Two  English 
galleys  and  one  frigate'  sweep  this  point  with  their  broadsides,  and  the 
redoubts  and  batteries  use  only  grai)e  shot  which  th(>y  shower  down 
upon  this  locality.  Notwithstanding  all  this,  our  ollicers  endeavor  to 
form  into  columns  this  nniss  which  docs  not  retreat,  and  the  soldiers 
themselves  strive  to  regain  their  lanks.  Scarcely  have  thoy  commenced 
to  do  this,  when  the  General  orders  the  charge  to  be  beaten.  Three 
times  do  our  troops  advance  ch  mtmc  up  to  the  entrenchments  which 
cannot  be  carried.-  An  attemi)t  is  nuide  to  penetrate  through  the 
swamp  on  our  lelt  to  gain  the  enemy's  right.  More  than  half  of  those 
who  enter  are  either  killed  or  remain  stuck  fast  in  the  mud. 

The  American  column  advanced,  in  good  order,  to  its  point  of  attack. 
At  the  first  discharge  of  a  g\ni,  two-thirds  of  the  Virginia  militia  detach 
thenhselves  from  it.  (July  three  hundred  men  of  the  regular  regiments 
and  I'ulaski's  dragoons  remain  ;  and,  altiiough  repul.sed  with  .severe  loss, 

I  The  aniiud  lirii;  (icriiiaiin!  dt'liveroil  a  galling  lire. 
Tho   low  casualties  Hiportod    in  the    Uriti.-li   ranks,  and  the   terriljle  slaughter   with 
whieh  tho  assaulting  colunuis  were  punished,  advise  us  how  adniinihly  I'reviist  had  pro- 
tected his  troops  by  cnlrenchnients  and  redouhts,  and    how  skillfully  and   rapidly  the 
besieged  handled  their  muskets  and  field  and  siege  pieces. 

The  loss  sustained  by  the  Knglish  was  remarkably  small,  (ieneral  I'rev.ist  reported 
U)  killed,  Oli  wounded,!  missing,  tS  deserted  :  total  !.■).■>.  Captain  T.  \V.  .Moore,  aid 
to  (ieneral  I'revost,  in  a  lett.T  t^i  his  wile  under  date  Savannah,  November  Itli,  ITVll, 
estimates  the  entire  loss  in  killed,  wounded,  and  mif^sing  during  the  sie«e,  at  lOli;  and 
Sledman  says,  "  tho  loss  of  the  garrison,  in  tlie  whole,  did  not  exceed  one  hundred  and 
twentv." 


sii:i!i:  OF  s.\  I ■. I. V.V.I//. 


:;:{ 


0 


^70^  rMiini  n'lK'iitcdly  to  \\w  assiiiilt.  (Iiiis  fiiniisliiiin-  n  |,ii||iMi,l  illiislnitioii 
^      of  tlii'ir  viilor.' 

'Tlic  priiciiiatiiiM  liy  tho  Aliiniciii  InrcoH  in  tlii.s  iijcnii.ral.li^  u».-iuilt  iH  mi>  »M(lly 
i);ii"r.Ml  by  our  unknowti  writer,  ihnt.  in  (lio  intorcst  ..ririitli  iiiid  iih  ii  proper  H,ip|.|,.i,„.,it 
to  tlio  niirralivc!,  w.)  cinnot  rolrni.i  from  prcMtilin-  Ww.  lollnwiiif,'  cxtrm't  Iroin  an  account 

proparwl  by  Major  TbonniH  I'in.kio'y  •^  who  wax  prcninl  ami  an  carnc>.t  actor  in  the  hi ly 

tictails  of  this  untortnnatc  anil  ill  consiih'rcii  attempt. 

'•  The  I'rench  troopn  were  to  bu  ilivided  int.>  three  columns,  the  Aniericann  into  two, 
th«  headi  of  which  weru  t..  bu  ponied  in  a  lino,  with  proper  intervulH  nt  the  cdKu  of  the 
wood  adjoinin;;  the  open  space  of  live  or  six  hundred  yards  between  it  ami  the  enemy's 
lino,  and  at  lour  o'clock  in  the  morninjr,  ii  little  betore  daylight,  the  whole  was,  on  a 
sifiiial  hoinj?  !,'iven,to  rush  forward  and  all:iek  the  redoubts  and  batteries  op|„,s,.d  to'  their 
front. 

••  The  American  column  of  the  ri^tht,  which  adjoined  the  Fremdi,  wer.!  to  be  ),rccodod 
.       Ly  I'ulaski,  with   his  cavalry  and  the  cavalry  of  ,'*'onth  Carolina,  and   were  to   lollow  the 
I'Venoh  until  they  approach  the  ed-e  ,d'  the  wood,  when  they  wee  to  break  off  and  taku 
their  posili m. 

"This  ccduu.n  was  c.mpo.se,]  of  llie  l,i-ht  Infantry  under  Colonel  l,aurens.  of  the  '.'d 
]{e-iment  of  .South  Carolim,,  and  the  l.st  llaltali<m  of  (.'harlestoii  Militia.  The  second 
American  column  eimsi.sted  of  the  1st  and  .".th  .South  Can.lina  l!.-in.ents,  commande,!  by 
liri-ndior  (loueral  Melntosh  of  <loor;;ia.  A  corps  of  Krcnch  West  India  Troo-is.  under 
the  Viscompte  de  Noailles,  the  Artillery,  and  some  American  Militia,  formed  the  reserve 
umler  (ieneral  Mneoln. 

'■A  faint  attack  by  the  .South  Carolina  Militia  and  (ieorjrians.  under  liri-adier  ( ieneral 
Ilugcr,  was  orderei'  to  he  nuole  on  the  enemy's  left;  but.  ir.sUad  of  the' I'rench  troops 
being  piiradod  ho  as  to  march  otf  at  four  o'clock,  it  was  lu'ur  lour  bch.re  the  bead  of  that 
column  reached  our  front.  The  whole  army  then  marched  towards  the  i-kirl  of  th(^  w.mmI 
in  one  h,n«  eolnn,n,  an,l  as  fh.  .  r.,a.d,ed  the  open  space  were  to  break  .rft'  into  the 
dillercnt  eolunuis,  as  ordered,  for  ^he  attack.  Hut,  by  the  tiuio  the  first  French  eohium 
had  arrived  at  the  ,ipeu  space,  the  day  had  fairly  broke,  when  Count  D'Estainj:.  without 
waitin-  until  the  other  columns  bad  arrived  at  their  po,ition,  placed  bim.MJf  at" the  head 
of  the  lirst  column  arid  m.^hed  lorward  to  the  attack.  ]!ut  this  body  was  so  severely 
galled  by  the  j.'rape  shot  from  the  batteries  as  they  advanced,  and  by  both  grajie  shot  and 
muskerry  when  they  reached  the  Abbalis,  that,  in  spite  of  the  effort  of  the  officers,  the 
column  got  into  confusion  and  broke  away  to  their  left  toward  the  wood  in  that  direction  | 
the  sec.md  and  the  third  French  columns  shared  sueeessiv.dy  the  same  fate,  bavin-  the' 
additional  di.sciiuragoment  of  seeing  as  they  marched  to  the  attack,  the  repulse  and  lu>s 
of  their  eomrules  who  had  |ireeeile(l  them. 

■•  Count  I'ulaski  who,  with  the  cavalry,  j.reeeded  the  right  column  of  the  Americans 
proceeded  gallantly  until  stopped  by  the  Abbatis  and,  before  he  eoul.l  I'oree  through  it, 
received  his  mortal  wonml.  In  the  meantime,  Colonel  l.aurens,  at  the  bead  of  the  Lb'ht 
Infantry,   followed   by  the   L'd    .South  Carolina   liegiment    and    1st    liattalion   CharkMou 


*Sei.  (u,rd,)H«  .\iuc,h,U»  „f  lla  .\i,u  riciii,  H,culiiti„n.     ImcIcCs  reprial,  v,il. 


18UJ. 


Ill,  p. ','•,'.     lirooklyn, 


5 


34 


sii:(;e  of  savaxxa//. 


1/79.       (IciuTal  I'liliiski  Ikmt  receives  u  long  barreled  musket  shot  in  his 
'^^  thi-ii.> 


>J 


mil 
111 


Mililia,  iittiickcil  llio  t^iirin;:  Hill  nnluiilt.  <rof  into  the  ditcli  and  plantod  flio  ooKirs  (if  the 
LM  lio'.'iiiicnt  (111  the  liunii,  but  the  imiaiiet  was  tiio  high  I'lir  thein  tn  scale  it  iiiiiier  so 
heavy  a  lire.  ami.  alter  iiiueh  Mlanj;hter.  ihej-  were  driven  out  ol'  the  ditch.  When  Ceiieral 
]'ula,-^ki  wa.s  ahuut  to  he  removed  I'roui  the  Held,  Colonel  ]>.  Horry,  to  whom  the  command 
of  the  cavalry  devolved,  asked  what  were  liis  directions,  lie  answered,  '  follow  my  Lan- 
cers to  whom  1  have  };ive y  order  of  attack.'     But  the  l.anceis  were  so  severely  -ailed 

by  the  enemy's  lire,  that  Ih.y  also  inclined  olf  to  the  left  and  were  followed  by  all  the 
cavalry,  bieakinj;  thronyh  llie  American  column  who  were  attacking  the  Spring  Hill  re- 
doubt. ]iy  this  time  the  :id  American  column,  headed  by  General  .Mcintosh,  to  which 
1  was  attached,  arrived  at  the  foot  of  the  .Spring-llill  redoubt,  and  such  a  scene  of  con- 
i\i.-ion  as  there  appeared,  is  not  often  ei|iiallcd.  Colonel  Laurens  bad  been  separated  IV 
that  part  of  bis  coinniand  that  had  not  entered  the  Siiring-llill  ditch  by  the  cavalry  wl 
had  borne  it  before  tliini  into  the  swamp  to  the  left,  and  when  we  marched  up,  inquired 
i/  wc  /mil  mn  tlum.  Count  O'l'lstaing  was  wounded  in  the  arm,  and  endeavonriug  to 
rally  his  men,  a  lew  of  whom  with  a  drummer  he  had  collected,  (ieneral  .Mcintosh  did 
not  speak  French,  but  desired  me  to  inform  the  eonimander-in  chief  that,  his  column  was 
i'resb  and  that  he  wished  his  directions  where,  iiiidi^r  picsent  circumstances,  he  should 
make  the  attack.  'J'lie  Count  ordered  that  we  should  move  more  to  the  left,  and  by  no 
uieans  to  interfere  with  the  troops  he  was  endeavaring  to  rally;  in  pursuing  this  direction 
we  were  thrown  too  uinch  to  the  left,  and  before  wo  could  reach  .Spring-Hill  redoubt,  we 
had  to  pass  through  Vaiiiacraw  swamp,  then  wet  and  boggy,  with  the  galley  at  the  mouth 
annoying  our  left  Hank  with  grape  shot,  \\hile  struggling  through  this  morass,  the 
tiring  slacked,  and  it  was  reported  that  the  whole  army  had  retired.  1  was  sent  by 
(ieneral  .Mcintosh  to  look  out  from  the  Spring-Hill,  where  I  found  not  au  assailant  stand- 
ing. On  reporting  this  to  the  General,  he  ordered  a  retreat  which  was  eflected  without 
much  ln,-s,  notwithstanding  the  heavy  lire  of  grape  shot  with  which  we  were  followed." 

I'erhaps  the  most  inleiligeiit  ami  suKlierly  account  of  the  ojierations  during  the  sice 
of  Savannah,  and  of  the  causes  which  conspired  to  bring  about  the  signal  disaster  cu- 
countered  by  the  allied  army,  is  that  penned  by  General  Henry  Lee*  His  n'sumi'  is 
coniprehciisive,  his  military  criticisms  are  just. 

'  Captain  McCall  .says  ( lli^lurij  of  a,:on/i,i,  vol.  ii.  p.  2(J7)  :  '•  Count  I'ulaski  attemiited 
to  pass  the  works  into  the  town,  and  received  a  siiin//  ciihiioii  nhot  in  the  groin,  of  which 
he  fell  near  the  abiittis."  Dr.  Stevens  {^lliatunj  of  Giunjia,  vol.  II,  p.  23.'),)  asserts  that 
when  Tulaski  fell  before  the  lines  of  Savannah,  he  was  carried  back  a  little  distance,  and 
tliat  |lr.  .lames  J.iynah  of  ( 'harlestou  extraeted  Irom  his  groin  an  inm  ijriipc  xhot.  The 
operation,  which  was  exceedingly  paiiiliil,  was  borne  by  I'ulaski  "with  inconceivable 
iorlitiide."  This  grape  shot,  as  late  as  l,^,jil,was  said  to  have  been  still  in  the  po.ssc.-ision 
of  the  Lynali  family. 

Colonel   I'aul   iientalou  (/'«/«.•'/.■/  nimliiutui  i(c.,  p.  'Z'J),   alhrms   that   I'ulaski,  while 

'  Mimvira  of  the  War  in  the  Suiithi  ni  Drjiinlmnil.  vol.  r,  pp.  llll-ll:J.  I'liiluclolpliiu,  K><ri.  ('uin- 
IMin-  ISnlld'H  Jliitiiry  i>f  the  W'tir  /;/'  the  Jnilijiehdi  nee  tif  the  I'nili.d  i<tiite.i  I'f  Ann  neii,  vol,  ii,  pp. 
'.iO;J-'JI().   .Ni'w  lluvi'ii,  is;t(i.   Miirfh'illx  /.if,  of  \\it«hiii!/ton, \-ii\.l\.  p.  '.Ki.i  I  .■xi/ :  I'liiluilclpliia,  \mr>. 


-SVAY/A'  OF  SAVAKXAII. 


35 


^77!)^  Stiindiiig  ill  the  road  loiuliiig  to  Augusta,  and  at  a  most  exposed 
point,  the  General,  with  perfect  seif-possessiun,  surveys  this  slaughter, 
demands  constant  renewids  of  the  assault  and,  although  sure  of  the 
bravery  of  his  troops,  determines  upcjii  a  retreat  only  when  he  sees 
that  success  is  impossible. 

We  beat  a  retreat  which  is  mainly  edected  across  the  swamp  lying 
to  the  right  of  the  Augusta  road  ;  our  forces  being  entirely,  and  at  short 

nth.,npfinfrto[,enotra(ct„tl,o  Fron.h  column  ,n„l..,-  D'RMtain..' wind,,  in  the  sw.unp  wa. 
subject,.,!  t„  a  i..ur,ler,M,.s  fire,  reeoivod  a  ..,/■/,-,/  shot  in  the  upper  part  ,)r  hi.s  right  tlii-h 
Alter  the  assault  wa«  „ver,  he  '•  was  oaveye,!  on  b„a.J  the  United  States  bri-,  the  ]]Ci, 
t,i  go  round  t„  Charle.ston.  They  remained  s„n,o  day.s  in  the  Savannah  river  ;  and  durin-' 
that  time,  the  n,„,,t  skillCul  surgcms  in  the  Krenidi  fleet  attended  on  Count  Pulaski  ft 
wa.s  found  unpossible  to  establish  suppuration,  an,l  gangrene  was  the  oonse,,uen<.e.  .fust 
as  the  ll„.y  got  out  of  the  river  J'ulaski  breathed  his  last,  and  the  eorpse  iuin.o.lialelv 
beean.e  so  offensive  that  his  offieer  [(.'aptain  Hentalou]  was  eon.pelled.  though  reluetantlv 
(o  eonsign  to  a  watery  grave  all  that  was  u,)w  hift  upon  earth  of  his  beloved  and  ho,,orJd 
coiuuiandor. 

Major  Kogowski  thus  ,les,.ribes  Pulaski's  final  eharge.  '■  For  half  an  hour  the  .n.ns 
n,are,  and  bloo.l  flowed  abun,lantly.  S.eing  an  opening  between  the  eneu.y's  w^rks 
I  ulask,  r,.s„lve,l,  w,th  h,s  Legion  and  a  su«all  detachn.ent  of  Georgia  cavalry,  to  elnu-c 
through  ,.„ter  the  e,ty,  confuse  the  ene,ny,  and  cheer  the  inhabitants  with  good  tidin  "s 
(.eneral  J.,ncoln  approved  the  daring  plan.  Imploring  the  help  of  the  Ahnighly  I'ula."ki 
shouted  to  Ins  n,.m  •■  For.var,!,"  and  we.  two  hundred  strong,  r,„le  a.  lull  sped  after  him 
the  earth  resounding  under  the  hoofs  of  o,n-  chargers.  For  the  first  two  minutes  all  went 
well.  We  sped  hke  Knights  into  the  peril.  Just,  however,  as  we  pa.ssed  the  gap 
between  the  two  batteries,  a  cross  fire,  like  a  pouring  shower,  confused  our  ranks      [ 

looked  around.     Oh  \  sa,l  , uent,  ever  to  be  remembered  \   Pulaski  lies  prostrate  on  .he 

ground.  1  leapcl  towanls  him.  thinking  possibly  his  woun,l  was  not  ,lanv'er,ms,  but  a 
>^uuM,r  .!„„  had  p.eree.l  his  thigh,  and  the  blood  was  also  flowing  from  his  breast,  proba- 
bly  from  a  .seen,!  wound.  Falling  ,m  my  knees  [  tried  to  rai.se  hi.n.  lie  saM  in  a  faint 
vo.ee.  Jesus  .  Mana  \  Joseph  I  Further,  1  knew  not,  for  at  that  moment  a  musket  ball 
..'razing  my  scalp  blinded  me  with  blood,  and  I  fell  to  the  ground  in  a  state  of  insensi- 
bility.  ^-  *  ;,:  ,^  ^ 

In  ninn,,,.,,,-.  G.,::,,U~,  Count  Pulaski  is  said  to  have  been  mortally  wounded  by  ^' a 
liiuiiii'  fhnl  III  /lis  Groin."  •' 

Count  Pulaski,  at  the  hea,l  of  two  hundred  horsemen,  was  in  full  gallop  ridin-^  into 
the  town,  between  the  rcloubfs,  with  an  intenti,ui  of  ohariiinir  in  the  rear,  when  he  re- 
eeive,  a  n,,u-tal  wound  Such  is  the  language  of  Ur.  llamsay;*  writing  only  a  few  years 
aft,...  the  death  of  this  intrepid  iiarti.saii. 


Wim/uiiyluii,  vol.  IV,  p.  102.     I'tiiliulelpliiu,  IsOo. 


Mi),(i,.';\\vi[i.     M,irsU,iWs  Life  of 


•^fi  SIKGI'J  OF  SAVAXXAir. 

Vp'i^  riingo,  exposed  to  the  conceiitnited  fire  of  the  entrenchments  which 
constantly  increases  in  vehemence.  At  this  juncture  the  enemy  show 
themselves  openly  upon  the  parapets,  and  deliver  their  (ire  with  their 
muskets  almost  touching  our  troops.  The  General  hero  receives  a 
second  shot.' 

Ahout  lour  hundred  men,  more  judiciously  led  by  the  Baron  de  Sted- 
ing,  retreated  without  loss  by  following  the  road  to  Augusta  and  turn- 
ing the  swamp  by  a  long  detour. 

M.  de  Noailles,  anxious  to  preserve  his  command  for  the  moment 
when  it  could  be  used  to  best  advantage,  orders  his  reserve  corps  to 
fall  back  rapidly.  Unless  ho  had  done  this  it  would  have  suffered  a 
loss  almost  as  severe  as  that  encountered  by  the  assaulting  columns, 
the  ellect  of  the  grape  shot  being  more  dangerous  at  the  remove  where 
it  was  posted  than  at  the  loot  of  the  entrenchments.  Accompanied 
only  by  his  adjutant,  he  ascends  an  elevation  fifteen  paces  in  advance 
of  his  corps  that  he  might  with  certainty  observe  all  the  movements  of 
the  army.  His  Adjutant,  M.  (Jalignon,  is  mortally  wounded  by  his 
side. 

When  the  Viscount  de  Noailles  perceives  the  disorder  reigning  in 
the  cohunns,  he  brings  his  reserve  corps  up  to  charge  the  enemy:  and, 
when  he  hears  the  retreat  sounded,  advances  in  silence,  at  a  slow  step 
and  in  perfect  order,  to  afford  an  opi)ortunity  to  the  re^julsed  troops  to 
reform  themselves  in  his  rear.     He  makes  a  demonstration  to  penetrate 

I  Al'tor  the  lutroat  of  tlio  iiss;niltitii;  cciluiiins  tVom  the  ri,t;ht  of  the  BritLsh  linos,  eiglity 
men  l-iy  dead  in  tlie  diteh  iinJ  on  the  parapet  of  the  redonht  lir.st  attacked,  and  ninetv  tlirec 
within  the  abattis.  The  attaek  upon  the  Kbonezer  Hatteiy,  the  Sprinjr-llill  mhmbt, 
and  on  the  redouljt  in  whieli  Cuionel  Mailland  liad  located  his  liead-i|naiteis,  was  niaih' 
with  the  utmost  gallantry  and  impetuosity.  'J'wo  stamlards  were  planted  by  the  allied 
forces  upon  tlie  Hbenei!(!r  redoubt  ;  one  of  wliieli  was  captured,  and  the  otlior  brought 
ofl'  by  the  brave  Sergeant  .la.sper.  at  the  uioniont  suffering  from  a  mortal  wound 

Count  D'Estaing,  during  the  conduct  of  this  assault,  received  two  muskec  shots,  one  in 
tlie  arm  and  the  oilier  in  the  thigh. 

••  'J'hi!  Ditch."  says  an  eye  wiiiiess.  "  was  filled  with  Dead,  .-ind  In  Front,  for  .">ll  yards, 
the  Field  was  covered  with  .Slain.  .Many  hung  dead  and  wounded  on  the  .Vbattis  ;  and 
for  some  hundred  yards  without  the  Lines,  the  I'lain  was  strewed  with  mangled  IJodics, 
killed  by  our  (Jrape  and  Langridge." 


SlEdE  OF  SAVAXXAII.  -x- 

1770.  within  the  ontronchmoiits  in  case  the  mcmy  should  leave  them,  and 
^""^  prepares  to  cut  them  off  in  that  event.  Under  these  circumstances  he 
encounters  some  loss,  but  the  anticipated  sortie  would  have  caused  the 
total  destruction  of  our  army.  That  the  enemy  did  not  make  this  ap- 
prehended sortie  is  to  be  attributed  to  this  excellent  disposition  of  his 
forces,  and  this  prompt  nianieuvre  on  the  part  of  the  Viscount  de 
Noailles.' 

The  fragments  of  the  army  hastily  Ibrm  in  single  column  behind  the 
reserve  corps,  and  begin  marcliing  to  our  camp.  M.  de  Noailles  con- 
stitutes the  rear  guard  and  retires  slowly  and  in  perfect  order. 

Towards  eight  o'clock  in  the  morning  the  army  was  again  in  camp, 
and  a  cessation  of  hostilities  for  the  purjjose  of  burning  the  dead  and 
removing  the  wounded  was  proposed  and  allowed.- 

Upon  an  inspection  of  the  returns,  the  Major  General  ascertained  that 
we  had  lost  in  killed  and  wounded. 

French  soldiers,         7G0   men 
Frenc'h  ollicers,  01     " 

Americans  ■]12    " 


■  total,  1133. 


M«jor  t.lasior  ot  el.o  tiOtl.  rcgi.nout  wlio,  will,  tho  ,n-on:ulier.s  .„,]  reserve  n.nrines 
was  supporon,  the  pou.,,s  a^suiled,  did  „..ke  a  sortie  lr,„n  tl.o  liriu.h  lines  when  thj 
order  h,r  retreat  w.s  ,Mven  hy  the  e„n,nu,nd..r  of  the  allied  arn.y.  He  struck  General 
Melntoshs  colun,,,  ,„  tho  flank  an.I  pursued  the  retiring  troops  as  far  as  the  abattis. 

f;'^  ^'  ;'"  '^^  j'^'-'-V  "/  Georula,  vol.  ,i,  p.  208.  Compare  Lee'.  Mcmous  of  thr  ^yar 
^nthe  Mr,,  J.,,,,,,,,,;,,,  ,„,,  v„|.  ,,  p.  108.  Philadelphia.  1812.  ^fu■sha/l's  IJf,  ,f 
Ila.«/(,»./^yH,  vol  IV,  p.  102.     I'hiladelphia,  180.-,.  "^ 

■^This  truee  l:,,sted  from  ton  o'clock  in  the  nioniin-   until  f,ur  P.M. 

•'  The  agsrosato  loss  encountered  hy  the  allied  arn.y  during-  the  progress  of  the  sie-e 

"    -"    -  Hl.ed,  k.lled  and  Wounded.     Dr.  Itau.say  , //,V,..y  ,/,/.-  7?,.,W„/,-„„,  ,,,.,  ...d. 
DT^in     a    H  "'r,'"^^^^].  ;'-«'•'«■  "'^'^   t'-  --"I'ing    columns    under  .'ount 

u.el  'ti.  t  "='.'"-^''  •'.'^-  "^"■^''  :''J  ""•  ^'->'  "'«  — y.s  ttre  n.ore  than  lifty-tive  n.in- 
u  s  a  d  tha  dur,„g  tlu.s  ..h„rt  „me  the  French  had  i;;iT  n.en  killed  and  wounded,  and 
he  Continentals  2.,, .     ■•  I„  ,hi,  un.<ueeessful  attempt,"  .«ays  Marshall  (A//,.  ./  W.,hn. , 

non,  and  the  Charleston  .M.ht.a.  who.  though   nniled  with  then,  in  danger  were  more 
o    u      e      .,  ,,.„^^„^^  ^^^^^^^  ^^  ^,  ^^0^. ,. 

killed  and  1'  '7  ,      .  ''  '"  "  ^""""'  "''>'■  ''"'''  "'"'  "'«  l'™"*-"''   '"^t  i" 

kdled  and  wounded  upwards  ol  liUO  men,  and  tho  An.ericans  ab.mt  dOO.     '■  Our  troops," 


38 


SIEaiC  OF  -S'.ir.LVAM//. 


n79^  It  was  dillicult  to  persuiido  ourselves  tluit  wo  could,  with  about  three 
"^^  thousand  men,  capture  a  city  surrounded  by  entrenchments,  strength- 
ened by  abattis  and  chevaux  de  (rise,  and  defended  by  a  garrison  of 
four  hundred  and  fifty  men.  Nevertheless,  the  bravery  and  stubborn- 
ness exhibited  by  our  troops,  and  their  nrninesa  in  defeat,  assure  us 
that  Savannah  would  have  been  ours  if,  instead  of  besieging,  wo  had 
attacked  it,  sword  in  hand,  (he  very  day  of  our  arrival,  and  if  Count 
D'Estaing  had  not  been  deceived  by  the  guides  and  ollicors  who,  despite 
the  emphatic  remonstrances  of  Noailles  and  Broves,  induced  him  to 
locate  his  point  of  attack  at  a  place  where  it  was  iujpracticable. 

.ap(ioneral  Moulfio,  (J/,  „,.,>,,,  ,/,■,  vnl,  ,i,  p.  II,  \ow  York,  1  8U1'). '^  romainoj  before 
the  lines,  in  tins  hot  lire,  fifty-live  minutes;  the  (5enorals,  seeing  no  prospoet  of  suceesa 
were  eonstra,ne,l  to  order  a  retreat;,  after  having  ti:i7  b'rcneh  and  437  Continentals  killed 
and  wounded." 

"  The  t'reneh.  killed  and  wounded,  were  rated  at  seven  hnndn-d  men.  The  .\n.eriean 
regulars  suffered  in  proportion:  two  hundred  and  forty  hoing  killed  and  wounded,  while 
the  n.ilMia  from  Charleston,  their  companions  in  danger,  lost  one  captain  killed  and  six 
privates  w.iunded."  (  A.-A- JAm'.,V,s  vol.  I.  p.  101).  I'hilnlelphia,  ISll',.  When  driven 
out  of  the  ditch  and  compelled  to  retreat,  Stedmau  asserts  (llUton,,.fih.-  Am., -Iran  W.,,- 
voL  II,  p.  i:!I,  LoiKhui,  179-t).  that  the  assailants  left  behind  them,  in  killed  and  wounded,' 
(),!/  ol  the  iM-eneh  troops  and  L'lil  of  the  Ainerieans. 

The  f. Mowing  are  the  names  of  some  of  the  Continental  and  .Militia  ollici-s  killed  and 
wounded  ou  the  'Jth  of  Uctoher,  1771». 

'''"''''''''•  •^'•U"r  -'ohn  Jones,  aid  to  (lenl.  Mernlo.sh. 

Second  Regiment,       .M;,j„r  .M„tte,  and  Lieut^  Hume,  Wiekhani  and  IJu.^h. 
'^"'"'•'1  •'  Major  Wise,  an,l  Lieut,  liailey. 

Genl.  Williamson's  Brigade.     Cajitain  IJeiaud. 
Charlestown  Itegiment.     Cajitaiu  Hhepherd. 
South  Carolina  Artillery.     Captain  Donnom 

Charles  I'riee.  a  volunteer,  SerL,".  Jasper 
WdU.NDKli.      lirigadier  (lencral.  Count  I'ulaski,  rnoitally. 

.Major  1/Knfant.  Captains  lieiitalou,  (uiesand  llog(jwski. 
Seeond  llegimeut.     Captain  Uoux.  and  Lieut\  Gray  and  I'etrie. 
''''"'''^'         "  Captain  t'arrar  and  l,ieut'.  Caston  and  Oesausure. 

f^ix'li         "  Captain  Bowie. 

Virginia  Levies.         Lieutenants  I'arker  and  Walk(  r. 
Light  Infantry.         Captain  Smith  .,f  the  :M,  Capt^  Warren  and  llogiui  of  the  oth, 

Lieut.  \'leland  of  the  I'd.  and  l,ieut.  I'arsons  of  the  ,"ith. 
South  Carolina  Militia.     Captains  Davis  and  Tieville  ;  Lieutenants  Monneau,  Wilkie, 
Wade  and  Wardel. 
Lieutenant  Edward  JJoyd.     Mr.  Owen. 


sn:aK  of  ,.avaxxaii. 


39 


^779.  From  tliis  moim-nt  wc  tlioiiglit  only  of  rotrcat.  For  a  Ion-  time  it 
~'  was  unknown  in  tlu«  army  wiu'ther  this  would  Ijo  consninniatod  by 
way  or  Charlestown  or  Tluindorbolt-bliifi:  Several  deemed  it  safer  to 
retreat  by  land,  but  the  manifold  inconveniencics  of  that  route,  in  con- 
nection with  the  exhaustion  of  our  troops,  fatigued  by  so  many  and 
great  labors,  determined  M.  D'Plstaing  to  take  his  departure  by  sea. 

To  MM.  de  Dillon  and  Xoailles,  eomman.ling  the  army,  he'^entrusts 
the  conduct  of  the  retreat.  The  General  him.self  was  lying  wounded 
at  Thunderbolt,  to  which  place,  in  obedience  to  his  own  order,  he  had 
been  conveyed.' 

'  ^Vlnl.  it  is  difficult  to  roeoncilotho  conflicting  estimates  which  have  bcon  handed  down 
to  us  ot  the  lorces  actually  enga^'ed  .luring  t!>e  Sicgo  of  Savannah,  we  sulunit  the  follow- 
mg  as  the  most  accurate  we  have  been  able  to  prepare,  after  a  careful  comparison  of  the 
uiost  relnible  authorities  at  coniuiaiul. 

PritKXdTIl  .IF  TIIK  FllK.NCII  AkMV  ...M.MAXDKl.  IIV  Col'N  r  D'KsTAINn. 

1.  X,.„;ilr,\  Dirmw,,  composed  of  the  regiments  of  (.'hampagne,  Au.xcr- 
n>is,  l-'.iix,  (Jua.leloupe  aiul    Martinique, 

2.  r/i,  Pir/.iono/  Cwiiil  D-E./uii,;/,  coniposi'd  of  the  regiments  of  Cam- 
brcsis,  llainault.  the  Volunteers  of  JJerges,  Agenois,  (iatinois.  the  Cam. 
I'.utau    I'rin.-e,  and  the  Artillery '  1  000 

:!.  I)M,u\-.  J)!r;,:ou.  compose.l  of  ihe  regiments  of  ])illon,  Aruia-nac,  and 
the  \'iphintcir  (ircnadieis, 

■i.    ?''''  />'•''.'/''"''.■-•':/'' ''»./o,«,/,/7i,/,„„,r,  under  thccommandof.M.Dcjean! 

i).    Tlf    I  "/'("^ '/•  C7<.(.«.i«',s  commanded  by  .M.  do  Itouvrai, 

ti.    Tlu-  an,„„n„-   Vohmtra-,  and  men  of  other  regiments  commanded  by 

M.  des  Framais,  .... 

8.  'I'o  these  shonhl,  probably,  be  a.lded  the  M„rmr,  ,„„(  S.ulor,  from   the 

fleet,  detailed  lor  .special  labors,  to  the  nun.ber  of 


OUG  men. 


'JOO 

50 

T.")0 


;!5(i 


Total,  .  .  .  , 

STttK.N.i-ni  ,U'    TIIR  AmKIII.AN    A  ll.M  V  COM  M  ANDKI,    HV  ( I  K.NKItAI,    LiNCOI.N. 

1.  ('.).NTr.NKNrAl,  Tii.mi.s.  including  the  fifth  regiment  of  S.mth  (^iro- ) 
Una  Inlantry.       .         .  '  I 

-'.    lll;V\VAI!ll's  .XuTll.r.KKV,  ... 

I!.    ClIARl.Ksl.iV   \'oi,I  NTEKItS  AMI  .Mn.ITI  A, 
■I.    liK.VKIlAI.   \\'i1,1.IA.MSI).n's   UlUCiAUK, 

T).   liMUMK.Nrs.,r  (ii.;.muiA  .Militia  eomman.led  by  ('„l„n"els  Twigg.s 


500 
■1150 


IOO:i  men. 
05     '■ 


:!t;< 


anil  lew. 


ti.  Cavai.iiv  under  command  of  lirigadier  (iencral  Count  Pulask 

'I'otal, 


I'wiggs  I 


150 


L'.lL' 


40 


SIKGK  or  SAVAXXMI. 


1779. 


fuencii  tuooi's, 
Amkuica.n    " 


KkCAI'IIM  LATIciN. 


TuTAi,  Strenqtiiof  tmk  Ai.r.iF.n  Amu-, 


415G 
2127 

0,583 


Antlu.ny  Stokos,*  Cliicf  Justiou  of  the  Colony  of  Goor^iia,  who  was  inSavannuh  dmiiiK 
tlio  siege,  estimates  the  besieging  foiee  at  about  4.")()0  I'reneh  and  'IMO  Anierieans. 

In  the  I'aris  Gazette  of  January  7,  17S(I,  the  besieging  forees  are  enumerated  as 
follows. 

FllKNC'II  TUOOI'S, 

1.  Eurojiciim:  draughted  from  the  regiments  of  Ar- ~ 
iiiagnae,  Champagne,  Auxermis,  Agericris,  tiatinois, 
Cambresis,  llaynault,  I'oix,  Dillon,  M'alsli,  le  Cap.  la 
Guadehiupe,  la  Martini(|ue,  and  Port  an  I'rinee,  a  l.»e- 
taehment  of  the  Koyal  Corps  of  Infantry  of  the  Marine, 
the  Volunteers  of  Vallclle,  the  Dragoons,  and  lotJ 
Volunteer  Grenadiers,  lately  raised  at  Cape  Franeois. 

2.  Vuhnd:    Volunteer   Clias.seurs,   Mulattoes,  and   No- 
groes,  newly  raised  at  Saint  Domingo, 

American  Tiuioi's, 


2il7l) 


1 


515 
2,000 


Total, 


.  5.,524 


In  his  enclosure  to  Lord  George  Germain  un.ler  date  of  \ovcmber  5th,  1770  Governor 
Sir  James  A\  right,  reports  the  liritLsh  forees  within  the  lines  of  Savann.-ih  durin.-  the 
siege,  "ineluding  Regulars,  Jlilitia,  Sailors  and  Volunteers,"  as  not  cxeeedin.^  twenty- 
three  hundred  and  fifty  men  fit  for  duty.  ]{y  tlie  legend  ace.unpanying  I-ukMrs  '■  Pl.,n 
ofth,'  i>,,.,r  „/  Siivamuihr  printed  at  Charing  Cro>s  (mi  the  2d  <,f  I'ebruarv  1784  we  are 
.nlormed  that  the  total  nun.ber  of  Knglish  troops  "ineluding  soldiers,  sean'.en  and  militia 
garrhsomng  the  forts,  redoubts,  and  epaulments,  and  fit  for  duty  (,n  the  9th  of  October 
177SI,"  was  twenty-three  hundred  and  sixty. 

''  The  force  in  Savannah  under  General  I'revost,"  .siys  (he  excellent  historian  Stcdman 
iIM..n,  of  the  Am,nr„n  ]Var,  vol.  „.  p.  1:;7,  London,  1704),  "did  not  exceed  two 
thousand  five  hundred  of  all  sort,,  regulars,  provincial  corps,  seamc.,,  n.ilitia,  and 
volunteers." 

Dr.  Kamsay,  {Ilistor,,  of  th:  Rn-olultm,,  rlr  .  vol.  ii,  p  .|(.,  Trenton,  MDCn.xxxv  ) 
states  that  •■  the  force  of  the  garri.son  was  between  two  and  three  thousand,  of  which  about 
one  hundred  and  fifty  were  militia,"  General  Moultrie  in  his  Mnwir.,  (vol  ii  pp  -H- 
42. )  substantially  adopts  this  statement.  ••  This  British  force,"  according  to  the  estimate 
of  (.'apta.n  Hugh  MeCall,  (J/;..t„r>,  of  Gronjia,  vol.  i,,  p  270,)  "  consisted  of  two  thou- 
sand  eight  hundred  and  fifty  men,  including  one  hundred  and  fifty  militia,  some  Indians 
and  three  hundred  armed  slaves."  In  li;,h„,i,.n\  a„„,lr  it  is  a,sscrted  that  the  entire 
strength  of  the  Knglish  garri,son  on  duty,  ineluding  Regulars,  Militia,  Volunteers  and 
Sailors,  did  not  exceed  2,;!50  men. 


*  View  ofth,  CoiMtuti.m  .,f  the  Hvitbh  Colouic,,  etc..  j,.  110,     J„„„Ion,  mik  ,  i.xxx,,,. 


SIEGK  OF  SAVAXXA//. 


41 


1779.       Ill  the  repulse  of  tlie  I'reiieh  mid  Anieiicans  un   the   right  cf  the  Kiigli,h   hues,  tlio 
*>—v—' ''"""Willi;  I5riti»h  truop.s  were  iiiaiiily  cngiigetl. 
2.S     disiuiiuiiled  Dragoons 
28     Battalion  men  of  tlio  GOth 

regiment. 
54     South  Carolina  Loyalists 

90     of  Colonel  Hamilton's  North  Carolina''    " 

Jioyalists. 
75     Jlilitia  under   Captains  Wallaee,  Tal 

lemach  and  Polhlll, 


holding  the  redoubts  on  the  Khenczor 
road  whore  the  brave  Captain  Tawse, 
commanding,  tell. 


in  the  redoubt  where  Colonel  .'Nfaitlanil 
was. 


71     Grenadiers  (jf  the  tJOth  Jieginient 
37     Marines. 

31     Sailors  under  the  eonimand  of  Cap- 
tains .Manley  and  Stiel. 

417. 


)       Ordered  to  support  the  redoubt  bravely 
|-  charging  the  Allied  Army  when  the  rc- 
J  treat  was  sounded. 

1       In  the  Spring  Battery  of  six  guns. 


General  Tluger's  attack  upon  the  left  of  the  British  lines  w.as  repulsed  by  troops  under 
command  ol  Colonel  Cruger  and  Major  Wright.  ^  J         i- 


42 

1779. 


sii:(it:  or  s.\  vaxxaii. 


Eiiuiiumlnm  uj  Otfurrs  '  wimiidcd  Ihc  -lAlh  11/  Sip/ewhcr,  1770,  'il  fl,c  first  AHack 
oil  Ihc  Ti'iUili,  iind  (liiriiifj  l/u  i'/'u(//-(>-.v  i  if  I  In:  Siiyc  11/  ,':>(if(iima/i. 


Names. 

Grades  and  Heg 

nients. 

M. 

Aiuoran 

Cajitaiii  in  Dillon 

's  f(!giment. 

(lu  Correau 

idem. 

do  la  .Mothe 

"       "    the  1-0 

gimeiit 

(if  Champagne. 

Petiteu 

liiid  Lieut.    " 

(( 

«                 a 

Boi.snior 

Captain         " 

it 

"  Armagnae. 

JJe.-^cure!? 

liiid  Lieut.    " 

a 

H                         i. 

Du  CJres 

Lieuteimnt   " 

it 

"  the  Cape. 

l)e  Cii'fuil 

Cajitaiu         " 

u 

"  Catinuis. 

Vaiiul 

Jiieuteiianl   " 

u 

ii          It 

(']]'  do  Tciurville 

Lieutenant  " 

<( 

it             a 

Graiigios 

:ind  Lieut.    " 

t( 

"  Port  au  I'riiiee. 

L>  iiii'iierice 

Lieutenant  •' 

>• 

"  Mai'tiiii(iue. 

Roeli 

OiHeer  ot'Artillei 

y- 

Total, 


1.^. 


'  The   iiauifs  of  tiiese  officers  are   liere  yivcn   witliipiit   niter;. tinli.  anil  yiA  as   they  are 
spelt  iij  tlie  iiianuseript. 


j 


SltXli:  OF  S.\  VAXXAII, 


43 


1779. 


Ojficcrs  ,n,n,„U;l  the  <)//,  ,,/•  Orhhcr,  1770,  before  S^icannah. 


XiinicH. 

Grades 

and  He 

ginients. 

M  M.    Cuiiiif  D'E.staing 

(Joiioral. 

Do  Foiitaiigos 

Major  Goiioral. 

l)u  Itetizi 

Coloiiol,  and  soeond   in 

ooniniand  of  tlio  roginiont  of 

( iatinois. 

Do  Stoding 

Colonel  of  infant 

IT. 

Do  I'liovillo 

1  Aide  Major  ot'D 

iviHioii, 

mortally  wounded. 

Chalignon 

<i         ti 

(( 

'(             11 

Bouliin 

Cai>taiii  of  the  (! 

roniidiers  of  Arniagnae. 

Grillcre 

Captain  "     "   Ruginient 

(1           (( 

Bari'is 

<1             1>        u 

u 

"  Augonoi.s. 

St  Sauveiir 

Lioiitoiiant    " 

(i 

u             u 

Chnussepred 

"                 u 

a 

(;           (( 

Moi'i'go 

■2d 

(. 

11           It 

Chamson 

Lioiitoiiant  " 

u 

"  Cainbresis. 

Coleau 

"                 u 

u 

11         11 

Boozol 

Lieutenant  of  tlie 

Regiment  of  Cambrosis. 

Oration 

2i\      "          "    <i 

u 

"  ILiinanlt. 

Labarre 

Lieutenant  of  tlio 

Dragoons  of  Condo. 

Ouello 

Captain        "    " 

liegiment  "  Dillon. 

Doyoii 

Lieutenant  "    " 

(k 

11       11 

Doloy 

OtHoer         "    " 

a 

>i       11 

Cli'  (Jo  Termoi 

Cadet           "    " 

(i 

11       11 

Duiiiouries 

Lieutenant  "    " 

u 

"  tlio  Cape. 

Dosornbrages 

'•                    11        u 

(( 

11      11               u 

Delbos 

I'd    "        "  " 

.( 

U       l(                11 

Desnoyers 

Major           "    " 

(( 

"   Guadeloupe. 

Roger 

Captain        "    " 

t( 

11            It 

Xoyollos 

Captain  attaclied 

to  tllO  H 

aff  of   Uefimenf  nf   fiiyaAa 

loupe. 


44 

1779. 


SIEVE  OF  SXVAXy.Xll. 


Cunlinualhi)  of  Officers  wouiukd  the  Wk  nf  Oetohcr,  1779,  bej'uvc  Savannah. 


NntnoH. 


Gnules  and  Uoijiments. 


M  M.     D'Anglemoiit 
De  Uousson 
J5uilly  (Ic  Meuagor 
r)ucloH 


Lieutciirtiit  of  the  chasseurs  of  Guadeloupe. 

■ij         X  i'     a  i<  (t  i( 

li'u'uteuant  of  the  Kegiiiu'iit  of  I'ort  an  Prince,  prisoner. 
"  "    "  Vohiiitoor  Cliasseurs. 


Total, 


.    ai. 


liecapitulation  of  Officers  killed  duriiuj  the  Proyress  of  the  Siege. 


Names. 

Grades  and  Regiments. 

MM.    l>cvcrii).()nt 

(Juartor  Mastoi 

of  the  Regiment  of  Gatinois.  • 

]  )e  xMalherbe 

OtKcer 

"    "           "          "  Champagne. 

Blandeau 

Lieutenant 

"    "           "          "  Augenois. 

Justamon 

(( 

((     u               ;<              a            it 

Fondprosc 

•Id    " 

"    "   Volunteer  Grenadiers. 

De  Seiice. 

Captain  of  Artillery. 

Tital, 


1770. 


^7AV,/;  Of  .SVll.LVA.l// 


4.) 


(>IJh-n:«  mc,l  nn  the  m  of  ()rf,J„r,  177fi,  M,  J),o/  „j  ih  A 


lldvk. 


N'ames. 


^rlM.    Brow 

iJallu'on 

J)cstinville 

Molart 

Stancoy 

Taf 

Ciiiillaume 

Do  Montaigii 

Boisiicuf 

Du  Perron. 


Grades  and  Resjimonts. 


Major  of  Dillon's  negiinoiit,  Colonel  ,)nnrantry. 

Midsliipnian. 

Second  l.ientcnant  of  the  Xavv. 

liieutonant  of  the  Uegimuiit  of  Annagnne. 

-•'     "  "    "    l>ragooiiH  of  Condi';. 

Lieutenant"    "    Keginient  of  Dillon. 

"    "    <ironadiers  of  Guadeloupe. 
Captain       "    "    Chasseur;*    "  « 

Lieutenant"    "    Regiment  of  Port  an  Prince. 
Captain  on  Staff-duty. 


Total, 


10. 


4*; 

1779. 


sii:(!t:  1)1'  .V.I  I  .i.N.v.i//. 


Conlinunlion  of  the  Jierapitulolion, 


Totiil  killi'il  iinil  wounded, 


W'oillldtil. 

Killfd. 

tlu'  J  (til  .•^c'litt'iidn'r,  177!i. 

10 

the  -Jllli  Si'|itcllll)iT,      . 

4 

'•    :2r)tli        "               .     . 

1 

••      J.')tll            " 

.      1 

17. 

"      Uli  Ootohor,         .     . 

! 

44. 

"    L'dtli 

.      1 

"      (Itli         "                .     . 

1 

"       nth  Oftok'i-, 

.    11  1 

"       Htli          "                  .     . 

:;i 

01. 


Jieriipi'tii/'ifmn  u/  Ojlicny  and  Snh/nrs  kiHal  hikI  irmDufal  at  the  Siege  <if  Sm-nnnah. 


Frencli. 


Killed,     . 
Wotinded, 


■Ml 


.    444 


8:21  men. 


Americans. 


Killed,     ....      Vl^ 
Wounded,     .     .     .  ;}00  j  ''1- '"*-'"• 


Total, 


1133. 


siKdi:  or  ,v.i  r.i. V.V.I//. 


W 


nrO^      Dm-in-  Sunday  wr  mv  ...rupi..,!  ii.  .lismai.tli,,..  ,„„.  hattorius.  and 
Oct  10  "^'^  u»dif*tnik'd  by  tho  enoiny. 

lUli.  M.  do  Dillon,  in  acknowli-dgnioi.t  ..f  tli.>  luinianity  with  wliich 
(Icncral  IVcvost  has  troatrd  ..ur  woun.I.'.l.  .,.n.!.s  iiini  ,i  mrssa-c  tiiat 
Ik-  can  icnmvc  l.i.s  wilr  from  Savannali.  l'.vv..,st  d.-lay.s  a  rc^ponne, 
and,  wlirn  he  i.sa,smiivd  ofour  int.'iitinn  to  rctn.at,  tlu.nks  tlio  (IcniTal. 

14th.  Thmmhu,.  Wodotail  two  in.n  l.vd  mu.I  uinrly-two  men  Ih.ni  ti.e 
ivfrinu>nt,s  of  Anna-nac  and  An.xcm.is,  and  from  tho  Marines,  to  pro- 
ctHMl  to  til.,  cncniy's  lolt,  or  to  ti.c  ..astrrn  sid.-  of  tlu-  citv.  to  ent  od' 
coniinnnications  with  thr  road  to  Caiiston's  crook  whoro'thu  army  is 
to  omI)ark.  Tiio.so  two  hundred  and  ninety-two  men  are  divided  into 
three  detaeliment.s,  and  occupy  three  post«  on  tlie  «ame  line. 

1-JtIi.  Fn,hti,.  Doubtless  appr(>lionding  an  attack  from  onr  now  posts, 
the  enemy  erects  a  work  on  his  loft. 

idem.  M.de  JJreti-ny'  arrives  from  Tjiarlostown  and  proposes  that  the 
General  should  send  there  nine  hundred  Kreueii  troops.  This  the 
General  refuses  to  do.  Since  tlu'  !)th  of  October  d.-sertions,  which 
ceased  almost  entirely  after  our  batteries  commence.l  playing, 
incroa.scd  constantly.  Every  day  several  soldiers  desert  from  tl^o 
diileront  regiments. - 

The  Virginia  and  Georgia  .Militia  withdraw  by  land,  and  there 
remain  with  the  army  only  the  two  American  regular  regiments  and 
Pulaski's  corps.  ' 

10th.        At  lialf  past  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  on  Saturday,  an  alarm  is 

'  lie  l„i.l  l,c.cn  mainly  iustniinoi.tiil  i„  influoiiem^  Cmnt  D'Estain^-  to  uiulurtake  thi., 
expcditiim  against  Savannali. 

■•'Tiu' fact  that  these  ilesorlinns  .lecirro,!,  is  distinctly  e,irr„bnn.tei|  l)y  the  Kn-lish 
aceoiuits. 

••'The  Aniei-ica.i  lurccs  under  command  of  General  Lincoln  retreated  by  way  of  Khen- 
ezer,  and  cro.ssed  Savannah  river  at  /.uldy'.s  ferry. 


48 


S //:•(!/■:  OF  SAVAXXA//. 


1779.  eausod  by  imiski'try  iiring  bctwcoii   the  Amoricaiis.  and  tlic  English 
Oct  1()  ^^ ''"  ^'"^'^  ^''^'  '^"'1''"^'^'^  to  conic  ont  to  get  water. 

17th.  Suvdai/.  M.  dc  Dillon  issues  orders  that  the  cooking  pots  and 
cam])  utensils  should  be  removed,  and  tents  struck  the  next  day  at 
ten  o'clock.  On  Saturday,  the  UUli.  the  dangerously  wounded  arc 
end)arked  I'or  Charlestown,  and  those  who  were  sullering  from  slight 
wounds  are  ^jlaced  on  board  the  various  vessels  of  the  lieet. 

18th.  Muuihij/.  At  h'w  iM'lock  in  the  morning,  the  wagons  take  up  the 
tent.s  and  camp  nteu'^ils  to  transport  them  to  the  point  of  embarkation. 
Sentinels  are  posted  all  around  our  camp  to  prevent  desertions. 

idem.  All  our  troops,  upon  which  the  advance  guard  iiad  fallen  back,  are 
under  arms  in  front  ol'  tlie  cam[)  at  eight  o'clock  in  the  evening.  Our 
departure  is  retarded  in  ct)nsequence  of  the  non-return  of  the  American 
wagons.  At  eleven  o'clock  the  Americans  take  up  their  line  of  march 
to  the  left,  and  we  to  the  right. 

At  one  o'clock  in  tlu^  morning  we  arrive  at  oui'  old  camp  at 
Rouvrai.  situated  ahout  two  miles  south  of  the  eastern  part  of  Savan- 
nah, where  we  bivouac  for  I  lie  night. 

Five  comiianies  of  (Irenadiers  and  ("luisseurs,  guarding  the  trenches, 
join  the  rear-gu;ird  at  the  moment  of  our  departure.  The  two  hun- 
dred and  ninety-two  men.  detaciied  on  Wednesday  the  I'ourtcenth  of 
this  month,  and  posted  to  tiie  icM  of  the  enem_\-  wlit're  they  had  l)ecn 
diviile(l  into  tiiree  detaclnneiits  and  ccaistltutcd  the  van-uiuard  of  our 
army,  had  Ik'cii  r(dit'\('(l  b_\-  the  (irenadiers  and  tlu'  (^'iiasscurs. 

At  three  o'clock  on  Tuesday  morning  tiie  retreat  of  the  Ameri'ians. 
by  land,  to  Charlestown  being  regarded  sai'i'  from  interruption  ])y  the 
enemy,  all  our  jiosts  are  I'vacuated  iind  tlie  army  begins  its  march  I'or 
tli>  place  of  emljarkation.  siluatecl  on  Causton's  ci'eek.'  an  arm  of  tlie 
Savannah  rivi'r. 

'  Written  Cusloihiil,-  in  llic  iii;i]iiiscriiit.  KiiiciiiilV  lainlini;  w:is  si:iiH-Ii' 1  iis  tlio  |iiiiiii 
wlieiiee  tlu;  tniops  wlTc  I'mivcyccl  in  sniall  IkkiI.-  {<•  tlu:  llt'ot. 


SnXlK  OF  SA  VAX.VJI/.  4<) 

n79^  An-iviii-  there  at  five  o'clock,  wo  find  our  caini)  alroadj  establi.shed 
upon  Caustoii's  creek,  and  we  commouce  to  put  our  troops  on  board  tlio 
ships. 

Oct. 

2()th.        The  greater  portion  of  tlie  army  is  embarked. 

21.st.  Thumluij.     (Jauston's  creek  and  all  (ieor-ia  are  I'vacuated. 


24tli.        SuwJai/.   Departure  of  the  Fkr  Rodrlf/iir.  with  the  merchant  vessel, 
under  her  convov,  whicli  she  escorts  to  the  northei-n   part  ol'  the  c( 
tinent. 


s 
)n- 


2uth.  Departure  of  M.  de  la  Mothei)i(piet  for  the  Leeward  islands,  with 
the  ships  L'A,niih,il,  Le  Mai/n!jh/i>e  anil  Lc  licjlevlii. 

idem.  The  ships  Lc  Jhlw.^fr,  Lc  Sphln.,;  La  DuuJrnu:.  Lc  Vcmhiut,  L Artcskn, 
Lc  Vaiijcnr,  and  Lc  Diwphin  Ihti/al  receive  orders  from  .M.  D'Kst.ini: 
to  sail  for  the  Chesapeake,  under  the  command  of  IM.  de  (Jrasse. 

2(itli.  Tiusdni/  morniu-  Lc  Fc„>/aiit  and  Lc  J)lii,lr„u  wei-ii  anciiors  and 
[irepare  to  sail  in  the  afternoon.  L<  Jtohiisl,  and  Lc  Sj.lnn.r  do  the 
sauu-  thin-.  The  otiier  ships  comixisiuji'  liie  ilivision  of  ."M.  de  (irasse 
were  preparin-  (o  sail  and  follow  him  at  a  jiiven  siuual,  but  tliev 
receive  orders  from  M.  D'Kstaing  not  to  dei)arf  until  thev  IkuI  l)een  i'ur- 
nished  with  his  final  instructions. 


2Stli.  rinn-s,la>/,  at  four  o'clock  iu  the  afternoon,  the  Lan-uedoc  loses  one 
of  her  cables.  Slie  is  forced  to  cut  the  otlier.  and  -els  undrr  wav 
sifinalliug  that  she  cannot  coufoi-m  to  iiei'  proper  position.  J.c  T„n„<tiit 
and  Lji  Produce  encounter  a  similar  accident  a  moment  later,  and  are 
likewi.se  com])cllcd  to  set  sail.  'I1ic  uorth-north-west  winds  vecrinu 
to  the  north-east,  bein-  verv  violent  and  e.vposin-  the  licet  to  constant 
dannige,  tietermine  X,  Vchjuh;  L'Artcxhn  and  Lc  Lhuiphh,  /,'„//„/.  , 
the  evt'niug  of  the  2l)|li.  to  make  readv  for  .<ea. 


ui 


50 


SIECE  OF  &AVANKAU. 


1779.       Sdtnrdoy,  those  three  vessels  spread  their  sails  and  depart  for  the 
Chesaijeake. 


Oct.  30 


31st. 


Sunday  morning  a  conncil  of  war  is  convened  on  board  Le  Vengeur, 
at  which  it  is  decided  that  we  will  beat  to  the  windward  for  fonr  days 
and  wait  for  M.  de  Grasse,  the  division  connnander,  and  that  at  the 
expiration  of  this  time  we  will  determine  what  further  course  shall  be 
adopted. 


Nov. 
1st. 


Mondii)/,  at  six  o'clock  in  the  morning,  we  observe  .«onie  ships  to  the 
windward  which  we  suppose  to  be  the  ves.sels  of  M.  de  Gras.se.  When 
the  day  l)reaks  we  ascertain  that  they  are  our  own  frigates,  one  of 
which,  La  Jimideme,  joins  us  and  accepts  the  proposition  we  submit  that 
it  should  accompany  us  to  the  Leeward  islands  to  m  hich  locality  a 
council,  held  the  same  day  on  board  Le  Dauphin  liuyal.  decides  that 
we  shall  proceed  immediately  by  the  most  direct  cour,>*e. 

This  morning  we  sighteil  the  s((uadron  La  Pruceuruh  which,  under 
sail,  was  waiting  lor  the  Count  D'Estaing  with  whom  it  had  not  yet 
fallen  in.  AVe.  that  is  Le  Vemjeur,  LArtedcn,  Le  Dauphin  Jioijal  and 
La  Boudeu.se  sail  for  the  Leeward  islands,  steering  for  the  Cape  south- 
east one  quarter  east. 


12th.         The  ship  La  Jioudtune,  parts  company  with  us  and  sails  alone  for 
Grenada,  her  port  of  destination. 

16th.         At  eight  o'clock  on  Tue.sdai/  morning  we  came  in  sight  of  the  island 
of  Jiarbuda  lying  six  leagues  to  the  south. 

17th.         Wedncuddi/,  at  six  o'clock  in  the  morning,  we  saw  Antigua  distant 
live  leagues  to  tiie  .^^outli-west. 


18th.         Thursday,  at  six  o'clock  in  the  evening,  we  sighted   Desirada.  seven 
leagues  to  the  south-west. 


SIKCE  OF  SAVAXXMI.  5] 

1779^  Fridni/.  M.  do  Retz  detaiiiH  a  craft  whioli  wo  overhaul  below  the 
j^,^^""^  i«liin J  of  Dcsh-ada.  It  is  a  Dutch  vessel,  ol'  a  susspieious  character, 
coming  from  Surinam. 

:Oth.        We  double  Desirada  at  nine  o'clock  on  Saturday  evening. 


19  th 


21st.         Siutilui,  we  come  in  sight  of  Guadeloupe  and  Dominica,  and  double 


Mariegalanth 


Such  was  the  termination  of  our  enterprise  against  Georgia ;  and 
however  sad  its  residts  may  have  been,  it  cannot  be  denied  that  it 
has  proved  productive  of  some  advantage. 

The  French  army  has  destroyed  the  resources  which  the  English 
could  have  drawn  from  the  Province  for  besieging  Charlestown  ;  and,  in 
retarding  the  execution  of  their  design  against  that  city,  has  afforded 
it  an  opportunity  for  placing  itself  in  a  posture  of  defense. 

The  city  of  Savannah  has  sullered  much  from  the  effect  of  our 
bombs  and  cannon  Ijalls.' 

In  consecpicnce  of  the  considerable  captures  they  made,  both  on  land 
and  sea,  our  fleet  and  army  were  aljundantly  su])plied  with  subsistence 
without  cost  to  our  King. 

Tile  English  lost  a  ship  of  fifty-four  guns  with  seven  hundred  thou- 
sand pounds  o(  stores  on  board,  a  frigate,  and  several  merchant  vessels 
richly  freighted  :  and  were  compelled  to  burn  in  the  river  another 
frigate  and  several  vessels.- 

'  It  is  ostiinaled  that  ali.iut  (.110  tliousiiml  sliclls  .■iml  twenty  carcassrs  woro  llirown  into 
the  city  duriu';  the  8ioj;o.  liy  llie  lattorsovcral  linusos  wore  CDnsunncl,  anKiii-  ilieni  that 
of  Mrs.  l,loyd  near  the  ehiireh,  and  that  of  Mr  Laurie  on  Hron-lilon  street.  Solid  shot 
wa.s  also  freely  used. 

-  The  followini:  liritish  vessels  were  captured  by  the  I'reneh  Heet  while  upon  the  ( ieor"ia 
coast:  the  ship  h'rjirrimriii  of  'lO  Lruns,  havinj;  on  board  .Maj.ir  (ieneral  (iarlh,  thirty 
thousand  pounds  sterling,  and  a  lar;;e  ((uantity  of  army  stores  ;  the  ship  Ari>/  of  20  ■,nin8  • 
the    Mj/rtlr,    a  victualler;    the    Cliiimjiinn.   a    store  ship;    the  ship   F,imc ;    the    ship 


52 


Sli:aE  OF  SAVANXAll. 


If 


1779.       Finally.  \V(>  destroyed  Fort  Tybee,  where  we  took  a  piece  of  ordnance, 
'     '       the  only  gun  the  enemy  had  there  abandoned. 

Viilory,  richly  freighted;  and  several  small  sloops,  schnniiers  and  coasting  vessels  laden 
with  rice  and  flour.  Two  privateer  sloops,  of  10  guns  each,  and  three  schooners  were 
taken  in  Ogeecheo  river  by  Colonel  White. 

The  ships  /.'rwc  and  SdniiiiHih  and  four  transports  were  sunk  in  a  narrow  part  of  the 
channel  of  the  Savannah  river,  below  the  city.  8ovoral  vessels  were  also  sunk  above  the 
town,  and  a  boom  was  .'stretched  across  the  channel  to  prevent  the  French  and  .\incrican 
galleys,  which  passed  up  the  north  liranch  of  the  river,  from  rounding  Hutchinson's 
island  and  attacking  from  that  direction. 

The  Rmii  was  sunk  on  the  (lanlni  lunih-,  on  the  liOth  of  .September,  to  obstruct  the 
river  against  the  ascent  of  the  French  fleet. 


SI 


EXTRACT 


JOURNAL  OF  A  NAVAL  OlIICER 


IN  tup:  fleet 


COUNT  I)I]STAIN(^. 


I  7  8  2  . 


JOUKXAL  OF  A  ^^VVAL  OFFICER. 


Seitembki!,  1770. 


0.1  tlio  .second  of  September,  becau.se  of  its  proximity  to  land  of 
which  no  reconn„i.ssanco  had  been  made,  the  Meet  came  to  anchor  off 
tlic  coast  of  Florida.'  It  had  pas.sed  through  a  vioUmt  gale  which  drove 
several  of  the  vessels  out  to  sea.  Those  which  held  to  their  anchors 
sullered  much,  .scmie  of  them  having  been  disabled  by  the  loss  of  their 
rudders.  Le  VaUhnd  had  hers  broken,  which  was  immediately  repaired 
with  .some  spare  side-planks.  Areanwhile,  she  was  steered  by  the  ap- 
paratus invented  by  Olivier.  The  General  sent  some  frigates,  under 
the  protection  of  two  ship.s,  to  reconnoitre  the  land,  and  ordered  them 
to  bring  back  some  pilots.  LIphhjenk  which,  with  the  C6,'^8,  was 
cruising  round  about  the  ileet,  captured  three  prizes,  the  Victory  of 
eighteen  guns— a  large  ship  loaded  with  public  stores,  clothing  and 
shoes— a  brigantine,  and  a  schooner  Ireighted  with  cloth. 

La  Ghimfrc,  V Amazonc  and  le  Gutter;  protected  by  le  Ma<jmfique  and 
le  Sphinx,  returned  bringing  American  pilots  IVom  the  port  of  Charles- 
town.  We  all  set  sail  immediately,  navigating  with  caution  during 
the  day  on  account  of  the  nearness  of  the  land,  and  coming  to  anchor 
at  night. 


'  Ocori'lii. 


.•)S  sii:<;k  or  s.\  v.wxmi. 

Whliicsihii/,  till'  Sth  of  Sc[)t('iiil)i'i'.  we  iiiiiili'  tlio  coiist  of  Kluridii.' 
Tliiit  cvi'iiiiig  tlio  lliTt  aiiclioivd  within  tlirct-  ioiiuiu's  of  tlic  liglit-iKUisc,-' 
at  till' cntriini'o  of  tlif  Saviiiiiiiili  rivor  in  New  (icorgia.  Of  all  tiu-ir 
foi'diiT  pdsscssioiis  ill  liiis  (jiiarlcr  ol'  the  Soiilli,  tiic  Kiiglisli  iicid  only 
Savannali  ami  Saint  Aiiguntiiii'.'^ 

The  Goiioral  had  liccn  adviwd  by  M.  do  Bivtigny,  nil  old  iiiiinkotci'i 
of  the  King,  and  at  [irosi'iit  in  the  sci'vii'o  of  the  Anicricans,  that  the 
English  had  lu-gU'ctcd  to  forlity  Savannah  wliifli  tlu'y  hail  (;ai)tnrc'd 
from  till'  Aincrii-ans  in  tiii'  neighborhood  of  ('liark'.><to\vii,  that  tlii'y 
wi'i'o  witiiuut  the  iiii'ansofik'fL'iidiiig  thi'iiisclvi'.-i.  and  had  but  fi'W  troops; 
that  if  he  bail  no  otbcr  s[)i'i'ial  cxpi'dition  in  couti'iiiplation  lit'  i-ould 
luaki'  this  one  cit  jxt-^.^mit.  and  that  it  would  ocrasioii  him  Imt  littk'  di'- 
lay.  Till' ambition  of  Count  DKstaing  is  easily  excited.  Filled  with 
the  sole  idea  of  suecess,  be  is  inclined  to  undertake  any  e.\peditioii,  how- 
ever dangerous  it  may  be. 

lie  bad  reieixcd  i)ositi\i'  orders  to  return  promiitly  to  l''raiice.  One 
cannot  doul)t  but  that  the  Mar(|uis  de  IJouille,  cognizant  of  these 
instructions,  liattered  himself  that,  after  D'J'lstuing's  departure,  he  would, 
with  the  assistance  of  the  snuadron  of  Count  de  (irasse  stationed  at 
Martinitpio,  retake  Saint  fjucie  during  the  winter.  There  are  strong 
reasons  for  lielieviiig  tiial  .M.  DEstaing  perceived  his  design  ;  and  that 
Avisliing  to  deprive  liim  of  the  means  of  executing  it,  he  determined  to 
carry  with  him  the  idi  icest  of  the  colonial  troops,  and,  with  all  the 
naval  Ibrces  to  undertake  expedition  after  expedition  during  the  winter 
season. 

We  took  possession  of  such  small  craft  as  attempted  to  escape  from 
us  aliiiig  the  coast.  The  (leiieral  wished  to  debark  his  troo[)s  that 
nigbt,  but  found  that  the  place  where  be  proposeil  to  land  tbeiu,  and 
which  with  twentj-iive  men  be  bad  himself  reconnoitered,  was  an 
isli'-,d.^     lie  then  determined  to  place  all  his  troops,  forming  a  corps 

'  SliuuliJ  be  (iouri;!!!. 
■-'  Uii  tlie  iiDi'th  cud  nl' 'I'vln'i'  island. 

•'  llurin^;tlu!  ruviilutiimur^- war  .St,  Augu.slino  constitutud  nn  iiii|i'ii'laiil  di'imt  and  ^('/('«/ 
d'lijijiiti  I'ur  the  IJritisli  inrces  in  tlioir  Diiorutiuiia  ayiiiu^t  the  Soullifin  .Stales. 
■'  Greut  Tjbee  i.*laiid. 


I 


s/ /■:<;/■:  or  s.\  im.v.v.i//.  .yj 

of  iilioiit  I'oiir  tliousiuid  iiifii,  iiii'liidin^j;  ci^lit  ImiikIiviI  iVci!  imiliittocs 
tiik>'ii  mill  ("iilislcd  ill  lilt'  colony  of  Saint  Doininj,'!),  on  hoanl  si\  .sliips 
(■ntriist<'(l  to  the  ('oinniiind  of  M.  dc  la  Motlt'-I'ifiiu't,  with  instrnctions 
to  |iinc('cd  six  leagues  I'lirtlicr  south  to  the  river  Saint  Maiy,'  and  tliero 
diseiiiharlv.  He  was  to  earn  with  him  nearly  all  the  loiij^  hoats  of  the 
vessels  left  at  the  first  anchorage.  The  (Jhevalier  dii  Humain  was 
ordered  to  enter  the  river  with  his  I'rigate,  and  two  store  siiijjs  armed 
witii  eighteen  pounder  guns,  and  as  many  lighters  as  possible,  and 
advance  as  near  the  city  as  was  practiealile.  The  Crigates  were  engaged 
in  guarding  the  various  passes.  Le  S'tijithdn-  and  A  Fl>r  Ji'o(/,if/iie 
lilockailed  Port  Koyal. 

Having  made  these  dispositions  M.  D'Kstaing,  on  the  llth  of  Sep- 
teiuher,  accompanied  the  six  ships  of  M.  de  hi  Motte-Piipiet,  leaving 
the  cominaiid  of  the  ileet  to  the  Count  de  Uroves.  He  anchored  that 
evening  at  the  mouth  of  the  .*<aiiit  -Mary';  and,  during  the  night, 
deharUed  with  lil'teen  hundred  men;  each  soldier,  in  obedience  to  his 
orders,  carrying  [jrovisions  and  water  iijr  three  ilays. 

The  row-boats  having  accomplished  this  first  landing-  wore  desirous 
of  returning  to  the  ships  that  tiiey  might  bring  the  remainder  of  the 
troops.  Some  of  the  long  boats  and  canoes  which,  despite  liie  bad 
weather,  obstinately  determined  to  leave  the  river  in  obedience  to  the 
positive  instructions  of  the  General,  who  knew  not  the  dilliculties  which 
confronted  them,  perished.  *        .*         * 

The  liad  weather  lasted  until  the  18th.  It  was  impossible  to  con- 
tinue the  disembarkation.  Not  even  a  canoe  could  be  sent  asiiore. 
Nearly  all  the  vessels,  moored  on  the  open  coast,  were  forced  to  set 
sail  and  go  far  out  to  sea  to  escape  destruction. 

For  six  days  Count  D'Est  ling  remained  on  sJiore,  with  fifteen  hun- 
dred men  having  only  their  guns,  some  rounds  of  ammunition,  and 
throe  days  rations,  destitute  of  tents  and  baggage,  exposed  to  a  con- 
stant rain,  and  near  enough  to  the  enemy  to  apprehend  an  attack 


'   Wtmimi  river. 

-  KtlVcti'd  at  l!(';iuliLMi. 


<'»0  Sli:(lh:  OF  SAVASSMI. 

ciicli  iiiHtaiit.      iMirtiiimU'ly  the  fiiciiiy  wiw  igiioriiiit  oftlic  .situation  of 
our  troops. 

Atliisttlio  \voiitiuTi«Tiiiittcil  HM  toliiii.sli  tlic(l."liiirkiitioii;uii(l('()mii 
D'Kstaiiig,  witliDiit  loxiiif,'  a  inoiiu'iit,  advanced  upon  the  onciny  whom 
111"  round  fntrtMR'iu'd  bidow  tiic  city  of  Savannah.  With  the  tow  troop-x 
under  his  coniniand  hi'  c-onld  not  attai'ii  with  iiopt>  of  succchs.  Many 
iiavc  tiiou^iht  lie  shoidd,  unth-r  tiio  ciivunistanccs,  have  then  rcrni- 
harki'd.  it  i.s  ciTtaiu,  liad  lie  doni'  so,  he  woidd  iiavc  followed  u  wiser 
phin,  (or  iiis  entire  fleet  wa.s  lying  exposed  upon  the  coast.  Hut  this 
is  judgment  after  event,  M.  D'Kstaing  could  rely  on  the  cooperation 
of  the  Americans.  Major  ( leneral  Prevost  seemed  inclined  to  surrender. 
In  a  conference  he  announced  that  he  wouhl,  to  save  ids  honor,  make 
an  apparent  defense;  hut  Colonel  Mekleii '  who  with  seven  hundred 
men,  threw  himself  into  the  place  hy  way  of  Saint  Augu.stine  creek,- 
changed  all  at  onc(!  these  pacific  disjro.sitions. 

Count  D'Estaing  opened  a  trench  at  half  nuLsket  range  of  the  English 
entrenchment,  with  a  fearlessness  characteristic  of  his  valor.  Cannons, 
mortars.  Ixunhs  and  the  necessary  nuuiitions  of  war  were  wanting.  The 
lleet,  which  w  as  to  supply  these,  was  moored  six  leagues  from  Savannah.'' 
During  the  month  of  Septeml)er  the  weather  was  constantly  unpropi- 
tious.  Often  for  live  and  six  consecutive  days  we  were  unable  to  send 
our  row-boats  to  sea,  and  the  ships  were  compelled  to  continue  under 
sail  for  iear  ol'  being  driven  upon  the  coast.  Count  D'Estaing  dis- 
played great  courage  in  exposing  so  considerable  a  (leet,  moored  on  the 
high  seas,  for  two  months,  to  the  danger  of  shii)wrcck  upon  the  coast 
from  the  south-east  winds.  It  was  not  until  .Monday,  the  Iburth  of 
October,  that  the  cannons  and  mortars  were  in  position  and  ready  to 
open  lire. 

During  this  period  the  ships  had  not  Ijeon  inactive.  On  the  eleventh 
of  September,  after  a  protracted  engagement,  V Aukcoii.  captured  the 
frigate  Arid  of  twenty  guns.     The  Chevalier  du  lUunain  with  hi  Bricole 

'  .^liiitland. 

-   lI'K/r.s  cul,  and  iho  Surniiui/t  river. 

3  Spelt  ill  the  narrative  iSni-iiiinh. 


silun:  OF  s.wAxsMi 


fil 


and  1,1  Tnill,  |,u.l  iMlvaiiccd  iip  tin-  river  iiikI  tunvd  the  Knulisl,  frivriiti' 
/iV*v,.  and  .sovcrid  nicrdmnt  vcss.-ls  t..  I.urn  llu^nisclvcs.  H.-  alnt.  tu.,U 
|mM,HfHsi..n  (.f  ,1  sl.ip  hul.'n  with  titnhcr  for  nmsts.  T.ikin-  ndviinl;.-.' 
-fhiKli  wiit.-r  li.'...lvan<'.',l  ca.-li  lid,.,  lM.in-..nfr,i;r,.,l  i„  a  .sU-ady  nmliiot 
with  th..  Kn-lish  gallovH  whi.'h  harranscd  him  ni^l.t  and  day  to  Hurh  a 
d(-rc(.  that  the  Hipfainn  of  thu  two  Anicrioan  -alleys  who  wero  actinfr  in 
'•nn.vrt  witli  liini  f,nvw  weary  of  the  continuons  {v^\x\.  (),u.  ..f  tJH'ni 
I'ad  his  K-alh.y  seiMvtly  scuttled  l.y  a  saih.r  t<»  whom  he  promised  a 
Inni.lred  half  crowns  if  he  w.nld  sink  it  to  the  l,ott.)m.  Comin-  to  a 
knowled...  of  this  Caet,  the  Chevalier  dn  Ifnmain  himself  assumerh-om- 
"iMMd  of  the  vess..|.  IJein-  iinal.le  t..  advane..  any  further  with  liis 
IVi^ate.  on  aceo.mtof  the  shallowness  of  th.;  water,  he  anchored  hi  Tmlte, 
whi.'h  dr.-w  h'ss  wat.'r  than  his  fri-ate,  within  cannon  shot  of  the 
Kn-lish  entr..uchments  and  of  the  city,  and  tired  day  and  night  upon 
the  camp. 

On  the  137th  of  Septemher  the  Chevalier  de  CiJetendo,  commanding 
Iv  Lk'vly,  l,y  a  rus..  and  in  genuine  corsair  style,  captured  two  large 
•ships,  on..  Ireightcl  with  (.revisions,  and  the  other  with  anchors  and 
cables,  which  rei-orted  that  they  weiv  un.ler  the  escort  of  the  ship 
Erprrimmf  which  was  accompanying  a  convoy  to  Savannah,  and  irom 
which  they  liad  l.een  separated  by  a  g.'de.  Upon  receipt  ol'  this  intel- 
ligence three  of  our  ships  were  detached  to  cruise  oif  Port  ]iuya\. 

On  the  lilth  the  frigate  la  Ce.r^s  made  herself  master  of  a  large  ship 
loaded  with  provisions,  mider  the  escort  of  the  Experiment.  This  prize 
and  those  which  pre<-eded  it  could  not  have  been  more  seasonable. 
The  navy  was  beginning  to  need  provisions  and  was  obliged  to  econo- 
mi/e  in  everything,  particularly  in  water  which  was  doled  out  in  a 
crucd  way  even  to  the  sick.  Neglect  had  oc.uirr.Ml  in  this  important 
particular;  no  use  having  been  made  of  the  American  boats  which  had 
come  to  us,  suitable  for  the  navigation  of  the  river,  and  lor  which  the 
king  was  at  no  charge. 

The  navy  is  sullering  everything,  anchored  on  an  open  coast  and 
liable  to  bedriven  ashore  by  the  south-east  winds.     Happily  we  have  had 


(;2 


SIF.aE  OF  S.\  VAXXAII. 


only  iiiists  i)f  wind  from  tlio  nortli-cnst  wliicli  injnrcd  sovon  of  onr  sliips 
in  tliciriMuldors.  S  'vrral  iiiivi-  lost  nil  tlicii-  iincliors.  and  most  ol'tlicni 
lii'^c  hfcii  m'cntly  cndaniauiMl  in  their  rii/uin;;-.  I'lu'  s<Mirv\'  raiics  with 
snch   severity  that    W(>  tiii'ow   into   tiie  ."ea.  each   day,  thirtv-live  men. 

AVe  have  ro  kind  of  relVeshinents  to  ;iive  the  siek  :  not  vwn  lixniiuc. 
hy  reason  of  'he  lack  ol'  water.  There  was  no  way  ol'  alleviating;'  the 
misery  ol'our  poor  sailors  who.  wantinu'  coats,  destitnte  of  linen,  with- 
ont  shoes,  and  ahsolntely  naked,  had  nothim:  to  eat  except  salt  pro- 
\isions  which  nnuh'th/m  die  of  thirst.  'I'he  hread  whicdi  we  [)ossessed. 
ha\inji  been  t\ro  yt'ai's  in  stoi'c.  was  so  mnch  decayed  and  worm  eaten, 
and  was  so  disaLireeahle  to  the  taste,  that  e\i'n  the  domestic  animals  on 
hoard  wonid  not  eat  it.  I']ven  this  had  to  he  distrilnited  in  scanty- 
rations  for  fear  that  the  snpply  wonId  uiterly  fail.  IJehold  a  part  of 
the  friiihtful  pictnro  of  the  crntd  and  miserable  condition  of  onr  crews 
dnrin,^'  the  continuance  of  the  Sii\u.-e  of  Savannah,  upon  which  the 
Count  l>'l']stainii- was  so  intent  thai  he  appeared  to  ha\'e  iMitirely  for- 
gotten his  vessels.  The  few  sailors  who  were  in  condition  to  work  the 
ships,  were  -weak,  of  a  livid  ct)lor,  with  the  marks  of  death  painted  on 
their  faces,  and  I'onid  not  l)e  viewe<l  without  compassion.  Dnrini;-  the 
niiilit  occurring  between  the  "Jlth  and  the  "Jotli  of  September,  our 
vessels  in  cruising  pw.'  an  alarm  to  the  tieet  by  comini;'  to  anchor 
suddenly  in  onr  midst  wIhmi  we  were  not  on  the  look  out  for  them. 

'I'Ik-  reason  for  this  haste  pi'o\'eil  very  airreealjle  to  ns  in  our 
deplorable  situation.  Tlioy  brought  intelligence  of  the  capture  of  the 
ICxjH  riiiii  III,  a  ship  of  lil'ty  guns,  by  A  Sdi/i/fnirr  wlii(di  fell  in  with  her 
oif  Port  l>''val.  wholly  disnnisti'd  and  incapable  ol  ollei'ing  an\'  resist- 
ance. This  vessel  was  conveying  ollicers  for  the  armv  ol'  Savannah. 
She  carrie(l  iNFajor  (leneral  (Jarth  who  was  coming  to  relieve  (ieneral 
Provost.  What  was  of  greater  value,  however,  was  the  pay  lor  the 
army  at  Savannah,  siv  hun(h'ed  and  sixty  thousand  silver  livres  of 
Fraiic".  This  news  alforded  ns  the  greatest  pleasnie,  We  learned 
from  tile  [trisoners,  taken  on  this  shi[),  that  she  had  sailed  from  .New 
York  in  ctnuoy  with  llirec  thousand  troo|>s  for  Savannah,  escorleil  b_) 
llii'ee    ships  of  the    line.      ,\1.  de    Proves,  accompanied    by  four   ships, 


f 


Sli:i!l-:  OF  ,V.l  \A.\.\A//. 


63 


iMiii.xL'd  iiK'i'xsiuilly  to  iiitorcci.t  tliciii.      Tin's  convoy  was  uii(loiil)U.(ll\- 
warned  of  its  ihuigcr,  as  it  never  mmle  its  a|ipeaiiuu:e. 

Let  us  ivtiini  to  tlie  sic-e.  On  tiie  l23nl  of  Sei)teinlKT  (lie  Kn-lisli 
made  a  sortie  npon  onr  workln-parties.  .M,  de  Kouvre  who  eonnnanded 
the  livneh.  havin-  under  him  Lieutenant  ('oionel  M.  O'Diuie.  repulsed 
them  vigorously.  M.  O'Duiie  was  drunk.  His  natural  eoura-e  and 
theexeilenient  caused  i)y  the  wine  carried  him  lieyondthe  proper  linuts 
which  had  hecn  prescril.ed.  Jlis  indiscreet  iuii)etuosity  cost  us  one 
hnnilivd  and  lifly  men  placed  /lurs ,/,  r,,i,i/Hif.  i)l'  \\\utm  I'orty  were  killed, 
struck  down  in  their  retreat  l.y  the  enemy's  artillery.  To  replace  this 
loss  tiieCeueral  ordered  up  I'oin  hmidred  marines  from  the  lleet.  under 
Ihocomnuind  of  their  own  ollieers.  This  weakened  the  lleet  still  more. 
From  that  time  it  was  in  no  condition  to  li-lit,oven  it' an  occasion  had 
present, .,1  itself  and  I'.iron'  had  made  his  a|i|.earance.  'J'he  Lieutenant 
of  the  navy  who  commanded  this  cor|)s  of  f(nir  hundred  men.  took  rank 
in  the  trenches  as  a  superior  ollicer.  and  conuuanded  in  his  tui'n. 

M'/inliti/,  the  Ith  of  Octoi,,  i\  onr  cannon  and  mortar  l)atteries  com- 
menced to  lire.  Our  cannon  [iroduced  no  elleet  U[)on  the  enemy's  eu- 
treuchmeiits  constructed  of  sand  and  with  slopinu'  glacis.  The  halls 
made  no  holes,  lint  simply  hnried  themselves.  Onr  l.omhs  succeeded 
a  little  hetter.  'I'he  ( ieiieral  caused  careas.ses,  lilK-d  with  turpentine,  to 
be  thrown  into  the  eit_\.  which  .scNcral  times  .set  it  on  lire.  These  har- 
rassed  the  Kn-lish  who  had  their  wives  and  children  shut  in.  .-xposed 
to  all  the  horrors  of  the  sie-e.  The  Chevalier  du  liumain  remained 
upon  the  side  towards  the  ,<ea.  with  two  -alleys  and  In  7>«//c.  who.se 
stray  shots,  ])a.s<ing  over  the  camp,  traversed  the  streets  of  the  citv. 

'I'he  jMiMli-l,  attem|ited  to  .■ncam|i  their  wonum  and  children  on  a 
small  island.'  The  Chevalier  dii  lliimain  made  a  de.M-ent  lle-re  at  the 
.same  time  and  compelled  them  to  return  to  the  city.  S'cin-  no  other 
idteniative.  they  a.hlres.sed  themselves  to  Count  D'Kstain-'.  prayin- 
l)ermission  t(.  send  out  their  women  and  children.  This  reipu'st  he 
refused  lMrau.se,  if  granted,  there  was  lik.'lihood  of  the  prolongation  of 

'  'i'lli<    I•:lluli^ll    .VdlriirMl,   1,1, 111    Hvinl], 

-■  lliili-liiiiscjn's  isliiiicl. 


■ 


64  SIEGE  OF  SAY  AX  X Air. 

tl,e  siege  ..!•  whid,  l.o  began  to  grow  weary.  Many  women  l.owever, 
lolt  the  city  and  presented  themselves  of  their  own  accord  at  the  French 
camp.  It  was  necessary  for  us  to  tak(>  good  care  of  thorn  as  tiiey  vvere 
unwilling  to  return.  General  Provost,  whose  generosity  and  hn.uanif  y 
towards  French  prisoners  have  never  been  denied,  had  given  thei'n 
tokens  of  attention  and  goodness  which  could  scarcely  have  been  ex- 
pected from  an  enemy.  This  c,.ndiu>t  on  his  part  was,  without  doubt, 
due  in  great  measure  to  his  wife.  ]>oni  French.  It  was  jestingly  re- 
marked by  a  member  of  parliament  that  our  gallantry  could  not1.e  do- 
nied  even  in  our  manner  of  nuiking  war,  and  that  the  prettiest  woman 
of  the  city  came  to  test  the  ellect  of  our  lK)ml)s. 

The  desperate  and  pitiable  condition  of  onr  lieet,  depri\-ed  of  two 
thirds  of  its  equipment  and  anchored  in  a  position  where,  by  the 
admission  of  the  prisoners,  an  Knglish  s.p.adron  had  n(>ver  dared  to 
renuiin  lor  eight  hours  even  in  the  most  beautilid  weather, decided  Count 
DFstaiug— seeing  that  his  cannon  could  ellw't  no  i.racticable  breacli  — 
to  make  a  sudden  assault. 

The  enemy  had  not  loss  than  Ibur  thousand  men  within  tlieir 
entrenchments,  including  some  militia  upon  whom  they  could  rely.' 
In  all,  M.  D'Estaing  had  not  three  thousand  troops  upon  wiu,m  he 
could  count,  and  about  eighteen  hundred  Americans,  among  whom 
was  a  suuUl  nund)er  of  regulars  commanded  by  Pulaski,  a  Pole. 

Orders  were  issued  for  the  troops  to  be  in  readiness  to  march  to  the 
assault  upon  the  entrenchments  ai  four  oVlock  in  the  morning  of  the 
(•th  of  October.  In  accordance  with  the  instnu'tious  given"  by  M. 
D'Fstaiug,  arrangements  were  nuido  during  the  night  by  M.  de 
Fontanges,  Major  (ieneral  of  the  army  and  Colonel  of  the  Volunteers 
of  the  Cape,  lie  has  been  generally  blamed  for  having,  at  two  oclock 
in  the  morning,  and  at  the  moment  of  nuuvhing,  divided  and  subdivided 
the  companies  of  Grenadiers,  placing  over  them  ollicers,  stnuigers  to 
the  oorps,  and  with  whom  they  had  no  personal  ac(piaintance.  ^Majur 
Brown  of  Dillon's  regiment,  in  representing  the  consequences,  condemned 
'  An  over  estimate,  as  we  have  already  (^eeii 


i 


SIKOE  OF  SA  VAX.XAir.  (;;, 

the  gononil  urder  ol' attack.  His  advice  wa.s  not  taiveii.  The  result 
proved  tliat  he  was  correct,  but  he  hini.seir  lost  iiis  Hie  on  tiiis  occasion. 
M.  D'Estaing  caused  a  false  attack  to  be  made  upon  the  entrenchnient.s 
on  our  right,  near  a  strong  battery;  at  the  same  time  he  led  the  assault 
upon  our  left,  having  to  pass  tlirough  a  morass  in  wiiicli  our  soldiers 
mired  to  tlicir  knees,  at  the  end  of  which  was  an  abattis  of  trees,  most 
diliicult  CO  pass  through,  and  swept  by  the  enemy's  artillery.  It  was 
evident  beyond  a  dt)ubt  — and  we  wei-e  advised  of  the  I'act  soon  after- 
wards—  that  the  enemy  hail  been  informed  by  an  American' of  all 
our  dispositions  and  of  the  hour  ol'  tlie  attack.  We  may  add  to  this 
statement  the  further  circumstance  that  the  British  troops  had  larw 
white  cockades  and  shii-ts  over  their  coats,  mIucIi  were  precist-ly  the 
prescribed  nuirks  by  which  we  were  to  recognize  each  other  during  the 
conflict. 

The  General'  encountered  the  fire  of  the  enemy's  artillery  charged 
with  grape-shot,  which  cut  his  column  to  the  centre.  iVrceivim.'  that 
his  column  was  recoiling,  the  General  passed  to  its  head  and.  with  his 
bravest  men,  inarched  in  advance  up  to  the  abatis.  He  was  followed 
by  only  tliree  or  four  hundred  Cirenadiers  and  many  ollicers.  This 
littl<'  troop,  led  by  the  General,  ru.shed  up  to  the  entrenchments  and 
ellected  a  lodgment  in  the  ditch  in  such  a  position  that  tlic  English 
could  not  bring  their  guns  to  bear  upon  us.  Here  a  hand  to  hand 
conllict  ensued.  These  brave  men  were  not  .seconded.  Tiie  rest  of 
the  column,  entangled  in  the  swamp,  was  mowed  down  by  tlie  eneiiiv's 
artillery,  in  the  face  of  which  it  could  not  advance. 

In  traversing  the  abattis,  through  which  he  had  forced  his  way  with 
great  ililliculty.  the  (ii'iieral  ivceived  two  severe  wounds.  Nevertheless, 
he  still  retained  strength  and  courage  sulllcieiit  to  mount  his  horse  and 
in  peix.n  order  a  retreat.  It  was  in  retiring  that  these  brave  (Irena- 
diers.  who  had  penetrated  even  into  the  ditch,  were  cut  to  pieces  by 
the  grape-shot  from  tiie  artillery  of  the  English,  who  lired  packets  uf 

'  Sorsri'aiit  Miijui'  Curry. 
-'  CnMllt    |)'Kstililii;. 


■'■1 


66 


SIEGJ-J  OF  SAVA.VNAH. 


scrap-iron,  the  blades  of  knives  and  scissors,  and  even  chains  five  and 
six  feet  long.  The  Chevalier  du  Rumain  attempted  to  make  a  demon- 
stration with  his  galleys  in  the  direction  of  the  river ;  but,  encountering 
insurmountable  difficulties,  accomplished  nothing. 

Our  loss  was  considerable.  By  the  returns  rendered,  six  hundred 
and  eighty  men  had  been  put  hors  ,/e  comhit ;  of  whom  sixty-four  werr 
officers.  Among  the  latter  twenty-two  were  either  killed  in  action  or 
died  shortly  thereafter. 

Our  troops,  without  exception,  extolled  the  bravery  of  the  American 
Regulars  commanded  by  Pulaski.  With  astonishing  gallantry  they 
returned  twice  to  the  assault,  planted  their  Hags  upon  the  parapet  of 
the  entrenchments,  and  rallied  in  good  order  after  having  lost  their 
chief,  wounded  to  the  death.  As  for  the  militia,  they  lied  in  a  cowardly 
manner  in  the  woods  even  before  the  action  commenced.  During  the 
cessation  of  hostilities  which  ensued.  Colonel  Meklen  '  absolutelv  wished 
to  count  our  dead  and  wounded  before  extending  to  them  any  relief. 
The  loss  sustained  by  the  English  was  very  small.  They  had  only 
fifteen  men  killed.  This  is  not  remarkable,  when  we  consider  the  man- 
ner in  which  they  were  entrenched. 

The  General  with  his  two  wounds,  that  in  the  leg  being  very  serious, 
would  not  suller  himself  to  be  carried.  He  rode  on  horseback  to  the 
villageof  Thunderbolt-  in  company  with  Major  General  de  Fontanges, 
who  had  received  a  gini-shot  wound  through  the  body.  Here  the  Gene- 
ral remained  until  his  return  to  his  ship  on  Monday  the  18th  of  Octolu'r, 
having  given  orders  lor  the  retreat  which  was  accomplished  the  same 
evening,  under  the  direction  of  M.  de  Dillon,  in  the  long-boats  and 
barges  from  the  Ueet,  and  without  interruption  by  the  enemy.  Two 
days  previously  the  Americans  had  retired,  taking  up  their  line  of 
march  for  Charlestown. 

When  the  fleet  was  iidbnned  of  tlu'  repul.se  of  our  aruiy  in  the  as- 
sault of  the  !lth,  in  addition  to  all  our  distresses  le  Jf„,/„ijl>ji>r  sprung 
a  leak  and  we  were  iinal)le   to  iVee  her  IVoui  water  with  all   the  ship's 

'  .Maitland. 

■•'  Ppolt   Tliinii/fi-/,/iii-  in  (he  .Iimnia!. 


SIEGE  OF  SA\AX\A/f. 


()7 


pumps  wliioh  won;  worked  diiy  and  iiijrht  witliout  iiiturmisision.  Wc 
wcro  ooiii[)ellL'd  to  stay  her  aj!,aiiist  a  merchant  vessel  while  we  dispatched 
to  laud  our  row-boats  which  constituted  our  only  means  lor  procuring 
succor. 

Our  situation  had  lu'comc  terrible  and  dishearteninji.  W(!  were 
obliged  to  receive  on  boaiii  many  wounded,  with  no  rel'resliments  to 
oirer  them,  without  even  linen  with  wiiicii  to  dress  their  wounds,  iuid 
were  forced  to  leave  as  quickly  as  possibk'.  for  a  tiiousand  reasons,  the 
least  of  which  was  imperative,  with  no  point  of  relief  nearer  than  the 
Chesapeake,  one  inmdi'ed  iind  lifty  lea.uues  away,  and  with  winds  nearly 
always  contrary. 

Moreover,  the  Cieneral  desired  at  once  to  take  his  final  dejiiirture 
from  Savannah  for  Ki'ance.  witii  iiis  squadron  of  I'rovence.  Water,  con- 
se(piently,  was  necessary.  We  at  length  tniind  the  means  of  procuring' 
it  from  the  river  at  low  tide,  brackisii  as  it  was.  Necessity,  the  nu)ther 
of  industry,  made  us  accomplish  in  four  d;iy>  what  we  had  not  lijr  two 
months  ventured  to  attempt. 

The(,'ount  de  Gras.se.  with  his  squadron  of  eight  ve.^^.sels  carrving  our 
wounded  and  those  alllicted  with  the  scurvy,  was  dispatched  for  the 
Chesapeake.  Thence  he  was  to  sail  for  the  Windward  islands.  .M.  de 
la  Motte-Picpiet  with  three  ships,  including  /,,•  Mnijiii/if/iit  in  an  unsea- 
worthy  condition,  was  commissioned  to  reconduct  to  the  (,'ape  what 
remaiiK'd  of  the  troops  which  had  been  drawn  from  that  colonv.  Tiu' 
frigates  were  ordereil  to  ('arry  to  Crenada  and  Saint  Vincent  the 
detachments  of  llain;udt  and  Foix.  Tiie  Chevalier  du  Rumain.  with 
his  frigate  and  two  arnu'd  store-ships,  had  Charlestown  as  his  point  of 
destination.  It  is  believed  that  he  was  charged  with  the  defense  of 
that  place  in  casi'  ol'an  attack. 

The  ships  of  Provence  were  manned  for  navigation  with  all  the 
prisoners,  who  were  forc(Ml  to  work  in  view  of  present  necessity.  Just 
as  the  (ieneral  had  matured  all  his  plansa  wind-storm  arose  —  unfortunate 
circumstance  which  can  happen  only  at  sea — in  con.sequence  of  which 
he  was  compelled  to  .set  sail  without  issuing  the  orders  re(iuisite  for 


(18 


Sli:(!E  OF  SA  V A  XX Ml, 


caiTviug  out  tho  arninov.iu.nts  lie  had  made.  *  *  * 

The  wind   storm  which   loivod  the  General  to  set  sail  on  the  !2Sth  of 
October  erased   on  the  ;)()th  ;  an.l  on    the  31st  the  Count  <le    Hroves 
convened    tlu'  captains   and    consnitc.l    as    t..    what  course   should    he 
a.loptod  in   case    M.    D'Kstaing  ,lid    not   aj,ain  make  his  appearance. 
Upon  this  supposition,  an.l  without  takint;-  into  considcrati.m  the  time 
winch   n,id.t  he  nec..ssa>T   li.r  hin,  to  rejoin   us.  it    was   unauinmuslv 
resolved   that  we  should  s.d  sail   that  ve.w  eveninj,.  takin^r  s,.a-room 
sonu.   lea^.ues   (o   ll„.   windward,  and  that  after  cruisiuu' several  days 
waitinu-    ti.r  the   (ieneral.   sh.udd    he  un|    appear,   w   would   steer  lor 
France:   M.  IVKstain-  havin,-  intimated  his  desire  U^  return  thith.'ras 
quiekl_\-  as  possilile. 

1  pcnnit  myseirio  observe,  in  this  connection,  that  the  ...mdition  of 
the  weather  giving  no  occasion  Ibr  alarm  an.l  b..ing  even  fav,.rable  t.. 
M.  D'Estaings  rejoining  us.  it  was  necessary  that  we  shoul.l  at  least 
allow  hnn  tiu.e  to  do  ,.o.  an.l  hol.l  our.^.dves  in  readin..ss  to  .sail  upon 
tlie  first  appearan.r.,ra  storm.  Ir  .s..em,..i  pn.babK.  that  .M.  D'Kstaiie.' 
lacked  anchors,  having  let  go  the  only  tw..  which  he  had.  in  tlie  h.,p'e 
that  they  woul.l  take  tirm  hold  an.l  prevent  him  from  b,.ing  tbnH.,1  to 
.-ea.      It  was  therelbre  more  than  likely   that  h,.  woul.l   return  t..  take 

>'l'  '1h'  small..r  of  thes..  anchors,  ev..,  if  1 i.l  n..t  n.m..  back  to  fnnM, 

g.vu,g  his  orders.  The  two  .lay.  spent  in  waiting  Ibr  him.  while  we 
were  obeying  his  instructions,  were  ma.Ie  pn.lital.le  t..  th,.  public  service 
in  that  they  were  eniployed  in  raising  the  anchors  of  th..  ships  whi.^h 
had  been  .'.anpelled  to  cut  them. 

On  th..  ;;ist  M..le  i5r..vs  g.,t  und.'r  way  with  a  p.irtiou  of  his  ..hips, 
and  came  t.)  auch..rhalf  a  league  to  the  windwaril  of  his  lirst  amdioraue.' 
The  next  .lay  th..  .,th..rs  s..t  sail  to  app,.ar  here  n..  nmr...  leavi'ui^ 
I'Arkl.  laden  with  nudattoes,  without  destination.  M.  d,,  Ku.nain  was 
still  in  the  river,  not  having  received  his  ..rders.  Th..  frigates,  uu.ler 
the  comman.l  .)f  M.  .le  Marigny,  dcparte.l  for  (iremula. 

The  lirst  night  we  wei'..  under  way.  with  nmst  beautiful  weather, 
h  MarseiUoU  an.l  Iv  Z.'l.'  s..parate.l  themselves  from  us  and  steere.l 
together  f,.r  Franc...    /..  Tu,n„n,t  and  h,  Prora.rc  were  already  ab.sent, 


SIHdl-:  OF  SA  VAXXMI. 


f)9 


liiiviii.ii;  boi'ii  ohligt'd  to  jiet  under  way  four  hours  iifti-r  Ir  Ldiii/uf.dor. 
M.  d'-'  ]}r()vos,  having  cruised  I'uur  and  twenty  hours  only,  at  ten 
o'clock  in  tlie  morninfi-  of  the  2d  of  November  sailed  away  with  seven 
vessels,  ineludinji'  the  Krj,rn'iiieiif  and  the  frijiiite  /'Atiiii::ij/ii'.  Thus  is 
the  tleet,  by  reason  of  its  forced  separation  from  the  (ieneral.  divided 
and  subdivided  into  so  many  piirts  that,  without  the  intervention  of  a 
miracle,  it  appears  (piite  impossii)le  that  eatdi  vessel  will  iirrive  sah,'ly 
at  her  destination. 

The  enterprise  a,i;iiiust  Snvannaii  seemed  to  cost  France  ilcar  wIk'U 
we  consider  the  coiidltidii  of  ull'airs  it  liiMULiht  aliout.  The  ('ount 
D'Estaing  was  all  the  more  inexcusable  beciiUM'  lie  expost'd  our  colonies 
to  a  similar  ex|)editiou  ;  leiiviui;' the  Windward  islaiuls  without  protec- 
tion and  Jiliandoned  to  themselves,  thus  all()rdiu,t;  the  English,  stromr 
in  this  (piiirter.  an  op[)i)rtunity.  had  they  so  wished,  at  an\-  tim<' 
within  thi'ce  months  of  retaking  them,  perhaps  oi'  recapturing  Saint 
Vincent  and  even  (irenada  —  where  tluy  would  lia\e  enjoNcd  excellent 
winter  hariior — and  of  attacking  Martiniipie  enfeebled  iiy  having  her 
troops  contiinially  withdrawn  to  |)artici[)ate  in  these  expeditions.  Whv, 
after  the  battle  of  (irenada.  did  he  desire  to  reuuiin,  instead  of  returnin"' 
to  France  as  an  escoit  to  the  couNoy,  iu  obedience  to  orders  from  the 
(.'ourt.  leaving  Count  de  Crass.'  in  the  Windward  islands  with  bis 
eight  vessels  to  pnitect  them  and  confirm  the  (■on([uests  he  had  come 
to  make '.' 

Covetous  of  glory,  excited  by  his  successes,  and  easily  seduced  b\-  au 
invitation  from  the  siein-  de  IJretigny  who  uuule  him  believe  that  the 
(•(MKpiest  ol' Savannah  was  an  easy  matter.  Count  D'Fstaing  was  unable 
to  resist  a  desire.  I'ising  siqierior  to  the  ha/.ard.  to  attem[>t  to  add  new 
triumphs  to  those  which  be  bad  already  achieved. 

If  zeal,  activity,  eagerness,  and  ambition  to  accomplish  great  deeds  are 
worthy  of  recompense,  never  will  France  be  able  sulliciently  to  acknow- 
ledge her  obligations  to  Count  D'Estaing.  With  nnudi  intelligence, 
he  possesses  the  enthusiasm  and  the  lire  of  a  man  twenty  years  of  aue. 
Enterprising,  bold  even  to  temerity,  all  things  appear  possibU^  to  him. 
lie  fancies  no  rei)resentations  which  bring  home  to  him  a  knowled-e  of 


7(» 


.S7/.7;A'  Oh'  SAXAXXMl. 


«l'iJu'..Itie.s.  Whoever  .kre.s  to  deseribe  them  as  lornmlahle.  is  illy 
received.  He  wishes  every  one  to  view  an.l  think  ofhis  plans  as  lie  does 
Ihe  sadors  believe  bin.  inhuman.  Many  died  upbraiding  him  with 
then-  m..sery,  and  unwiUin.  to  pardon  bin,;  but  this  is  a  reproach 
i>"-ident  to  his  austere  mode  of  life,  because  he  is  cruel  to  himself  We 
liave  seen  him  sick  and  attacked  with  .scurvy,  never  desiring  to  make 
u«e  „t  any  reme.lies.  working  night  and  day.  sleeping  only  an  hour 
after  d.nner,  his  head  resting  upon  bis  band..,  .sometimes  lying  down 
but  without  undre.s.sin"-  ' 

Thus  have  we  observed  Count  D'Kstaing  .luring  this  campaign. 
1  HM-e  ,s  not  a  man  in  bis  fleet  who  wuuld  believ,.  that  be  has  endured 
all  the  (at.gue  whi..b  he  has  uudergon...  When  1  am  now  aske.l  if  he 
•s  a  good  general,  it  is  didicult  for  me  to  respond  to  this  in.p.irv  Jle 
committo,l  nnu.b  to  eban..e  and  played  largely  the  game  of  haxard. 
5.it  that  he  was  energetic,  adventurous  almost  to  rashness,  indefati..a- 
Me  m  bis  enterprises  which  be  ..onductcl  with  au  ardor  of  wbi,.b  had 
wo  not  followed  him  we  could  have  formed  no  conception,  and  that  to 
"11  this  be  added  much  intellect,  and  a  temp,.-  which  imparte.l  ..reat 
austerity  to  his  character,  we  are  forced  to  admit. 


i 


